Ray Tracing Basics Site

[Darryl Meister]

Well, after much blood, sweat, and tears, I have the ray tracing site finished! I'm currently working on a basic optics site, as well -- which will cover topics such as focal power and prism. This site will bring any OptiBoarders up to speed who want to understand the ray tracing section better. I probably won't begin serious effort on the basic optics site until I see how many people show some interest in it.

The ray tracing site also has a little calculator built into it to perform some simple object/image calculations. As requested, I tried to keep the math to a minimum on the actual site.

You can reach the main site at:
www.opticampus.com

Just go to the "Simple Ray Tracing of Thin Lenses" site. Remember, you will need Internet Explorer (or AOL, which uses IE) to view it properly.

If you have any comments or suggestions, or find any errors, please let me know.

Enjoy.

Best regards,
Darryl

[Joann Raytar]

Very nice!

I have only one question regarding light passing through the optical center. I thought it did deviate. Not that it converged or diverged but that it passes through the medium slighty off center but parallel, like viewing a pencil partially submerged in a glass of water.

OK, now work on the Basic Principles of Light. :D

[Laurie]

The tracings are gorgeous!!

Absolutely beautiful.

Can our students click onto this link, or do we need to add their names to your optiboard cyber class?

Thank You,

Laurie

[JRS]

A beautiful and well done site Darryl. Look forward to studying it in detail. Great job.

J.R. Smith

[Suzy W]

Great site. Thanks for taking the time to do this for us :)

Suzy

[Steve Machol]

Good job as always Darryl! :)

[Darryl Meister]

Originally posted by Jo
I have only one question regarding light passing through the optical center. I thought it did deviate. Not that it converged or diverged but that it passes through the medium slighty off center but parallel, like viewing a pencil partially submerged in a glass of water.

Hi Jo,

For thick lenses you are exactly right (you also have to consider the nodal points, which is another topic). However, for thin lenses the thickness is disregarded so the chief ray cannot be displaced. This is actually something that I was planning to discuss in the basics optics module and possibly the thick lens module, if I ever get around to writing one.

Best regards,
Darryl

[Darryl Meister]

Originally posted by Laurie
Can our students click onto this link, or do we need to add their names to your optiboard cyber class?

Hi Laurie,

Well, your students can access the site directly using the URL. However, I would encourage you to have them access it initially through the OptiBoard. If they are interested in ray tracing, they should find many of the discussions in the Ophthalmic Optics forum beneficial.

Best regards,
Darryl

[Ney Rojas-Mejia]

can not wait to get home and kick the kids off the computer (have AOL at home). Thanks Darryl

[Sara]

Darryl,
Great work!! It is very simple in presentation that even a layman can understand.
However I have one question,that is about optical sign convention
You have described horizontally only.How about vertical signs and angles clockwise and anticlockwise ?
I am going back to your interesting site.
Thanks Darryl.
Sara
"Final year refracting optical student"

[haya]

Thanks very much Darryl,

u have just saved me hours of making new threads on basic optics!! (my exam is just around the corner, :D)

Originally posted by Darryl Meister

This is actually something that I was planning to discuss in the basics optics module and possibly the thick lens module, if I ever get around to writing one.

Would be much obliged if u touched on thick lenses!!

Well done Darryl ;)

haya :hammer: head

[Ney Rojas-Mejia]

:cheers: Darryl, just saw your site. GREAT! :cheers:

[Corey Nicholls]

Darryl,

Looks good!

:cheers:

[John R]

Very nice piece of work there Darryl. :bbg:

[Alan W]

Darryl

Superb work. You exceed the quality and completeness of the majority of net-available material by "light years" .

Thank you,