Introduction: The Fresnel equations are an important part of optics and describe the reflection and transmission at a boundary between two materials with different refractive indices. In this lesson plan, we’ll break down these equations and apply them to some example problems.
Lesson Outline: 1. Introduction to the Fresnel Equations (15 minutes) - What are the Fresnel equations? - Overview of the equations and their applications - Illustrate the meaning of the variables used in the equations (e.g. n1, n2, etc.) 2. Calculation of Reflectance, Transmittance and Phase Change (15 minutes) - Detailed explanation of how to calculate the reflectance, transmittance, and phase change of light at the boundary of two materials - Examples of these calculations 3. Application to Real World Problems (15 minutes) - Discussion of real-world applications of the equations (e.g. thin-film interference) - Examples of thin-film interference
Questioning: 1. What is the purpose of the Fresnel equations? 2. How do the variables in the Fresnel equations (n1, n2, etc.) relate to the physical properties of the materials? 3. How do we use the Fresnel equations to calculate the reflectance, transmittance, and phase change at a boundary between two media? 4. What are some real-world applications of the equations?
Assessment: 1. Open-ended questions on the basics of the Fresnel equations 2. Problems requiring calculation of reflectance, transmittance, and phase change at the boundary between two materials 3. A short essay on an application of the Fresnel equations to thin-film interference
Worksheet/Video Resources: Worksheets: - http://photonics.intec.ugent.be/uploads/media/Fresnel_equations.pdf - https://www.k-state.edu/nuceng/oe/e3062/notes_pdf/Fresnel.pdf
Videos: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsKKQSwsDb0 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlOchfRxtW8