OPTICAL SYSTEMSLight and Optical Systems

Objective

Students will recognize telescopes as an optical device, and understand the development of the modern telescope.

Getting Started

What do you think the word “optical” means?

How would you compare human eyesight to eyesight in the animal world?

What was beginning of optical systems? Name an optical system.

Magnifying Glass

Glasses

Telescope

BenefitsSimple

DownsidesChromatic aberrationHard to make big

lensesGlass is heavy

Yerkes Observatory

Discussion Questions

Can you think of any possible problems with this kind of telescope?

Chromatic Aberration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMGytKqB9bU

Essential Concept

Big glass lensesHeavyExpensive

Simple Solution

An Elegant Solution

Keck Observatory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVJIolNFzbM

Review

What does it mean when light refracts? What does it mean when light reflects? What are the limitations of refracting

telescopes? What are the benefits of the reflecting

telescope?