Site Map for Reflection, Refraction & Optical Fibers

A Science of Information Technology Module

Read the policies below, then click on one of the links in the tables to take you to the listed materials. Or, click here to go to a flow chart site map.

(SOR = "State of Readiness")

Quick links:

Policies - Please Read Carefully before Accessing Materials

Materials for the Science of Information Technology are provided on-line, at no cost to the user, in the hope of improving the relevance of introductory physics courses and of increasing the level of scientific literacy of the pubic. In exchange for this availability, the developers respectfully request your compliance with the following guidelines for use:

Instructor's materials are available upon request. Under no circumstances are Instructors' materials to be distributed to non-instructors, nor are non-instructors to be given access to them. These resources are provided to facilitate the use of these materials in a variety of classroom settings, not to give students a way to check their answers against the author's.
Materials are copyrighted. If you desire to reproduce, either electronically or on paper, these materials, please contact the author for permission.
Any use of these materials should include a reference to the ScIT homepage: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/phys/ScIT.
If you make use of these materials, please let us know by emailing the author. Include your name, your position (teacher, student, random web browser), the context in which you used these material, and whether you are willing to provide more detailed feedback. Such information can help drive, and guide, futher development. You may ask to be placed on the ScIT mailing list at the same time.

Supporting Materials -
Start with Objectives to traverse module in order

Item	SOR	Item	SOR
Objectives/Prerequisites/Technology	3	Links/References	3
Summary	3	Glossary	3
Credits / Contacts	4

Materials covering Reflection

Readings	SOR	Problems	SOR
Discussion Questions on Reflection	4	Sample Problems for the Law of Reflection	4
Measuring Angles	4	Practice Exercises for the Law of Reflection	4
The Law of Reflection	4	Homework on Reflection	4
Total and Diffuse Reflection	4

Materials covering Refraction

Readings	SOR	Problems	SOR
Discussion Questions on Refraction	4	Sample Problems for the Index of Refraction	4
The Speed of Light	4	Practice Exercises for the Index of Refraction	4
The Index of Refraction	4	Sample Problems for Snell’s Law	4
The Significance of c	4	Practice Exercises for Snell’s Law	4
Refraction of Light	4	Sample Problems for the Critical Angle	4
Snell’s Law	4	Practice Exercises for Total Internal Reflection	4
Intuition vs. Snell’s Law	4	Homework on Refraction	4
Total Internal Reflection	4
The Critical Angle	4

Materials covering Step-Index Fibers

Readings	SOR	Problems	SOR
Discussion Questions on Optical Fibers	4	Sample Problems for Numerical Aperture	4
Optical Fiber Basics	4	Practice Exercises for Numerical Aperture	4
Adding a Cladding	4	Homework on Optical Fibers	4
The Step-Index Fiber	4
What a Difference a Cladding Makes	4
The Cone of Acceptance	3
Determining the Cut-Off Angle (optional)	4
Numerical Aperture (optional)	4

Guest Lecture

Lecturer	Title	SOR
Dr. Peter Persans	Optical Communications for Information Technology	4

Activity

Snell's Law	SOR
Preparation for the Critical Angle and Fiber Optics Activity	3
The Critical Angle and Fiber Optics Activity - Equipment	3
The Critical Angle and Fiber Optics Activity - Simulation	3

Instructor Resources

Solutions	SOR
Instructor's Resource Launch Page	3
Instructor's Guide to Critical Angle Activity Preparation	3
Instructor's Guide to Critical Angle Activity (Equipment-Based)	3
Instructor's Guide to Critical Angle Activity (Simulation-Based)	3
Instructor's Guide to Reflection, Refraction, and Optical Fibers Homework	4
A set of Diagnostic questions is available upon request.
Reading Quizzes are available upon request.

Legend

Color	SOR = State of Readiness	Category	Description
0 = Gray	Unavailable	Readings	On-line text with illustrations, glossary, and animations
1 = Red	Not altered from form used at Rensselaer	Samples	Sample problems worked out and explained
2 = Yellow	Partially revised	Exercises	Practice exercises with randomly-generated details replaced when page is reloaded
3 = Green	Completely revised; ready for evaluation	Homework	Questions and problems
4 = Blue	Internally evaluated	Activities	In-class activities, using either equipment or on-line simulations
5 = Violet	Externally evaluated and ready for distribution	Guest Lecture	Digital video of lecture by research physicist in relevant field

Site Map for Reflection, Refraction & Optical Fibers

Item

SOR

Item

SOR

Materials covering Reflection

Readings

SOR

Problems

SOR

Materials covering Refraction

Readings

SOR

Problems

SOR

Materials covering Step-Index Fibers

Readings

SOR

Problems

SOR

Guest Lecture

Lecturer

Title

SOR

Activity

Snell's Law

SOR

Instructor Resources

Solutions

SOR

Legend