OPTICAL DEVICESBy;:Jerome S. Del Castillo Grade 10 –Atlas
What are Optical devices?Optical devices
manipulate light waves to aid in viewing or analyzing those waves to determine properties of the object in view.
An optical device either processes light waves to enhance an image for viewing, or analyzes light waves (or photons) to determine one of a number for characteristics properties.
Stereoscope
an optical device for viewing
stereoscopic photographs
Optical Microscope
is a type of microscope which uses visible light and
a system of lenses to magnify
images of small samples.
Optical Telescope A telescope that
gathers and focuses light,
mainly from the visible part of
the electromagnetic spectrum, to create a magnified image
for direct view.
Rochon Prism
optical device that produces
plane-polarized ultraviolet light)
Autofocus
an optical device for
focussing a camera or
other instrument
automatically)
Optical Prism
optical device having a triangular shape and made of glass or quartz; used to deviate a beam or invert an
image.
Projector
an optical device for
projecting a beam of light
Polarimeter
an optical device used to measure
the rotation of the plane of vibration of polarized light
Nicol Prismoptical device that produces
plane-polarized light
Optical Maser
an acronym for light
amplification by stimulated emission of
radiation; an optical device
that produces an intense
monochromatic beam of coherent
light
Laser
Kerr Cell
optical device consisting of a
transparent cell with two electrodes
between two polarizing media; passes light
only if the two planes of polarization are parallel; used as a
high-speed shutter or to modulate a laser
beam.
View Finder
optical device that helps a
user to find the target of interest
Diffraction Grating
optical device consisting of a
surface with many parallel grooves in
it; disperses a beam of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) into its wavelengths to
produce its spectrum.
Collimator
optical device consisting of a tube containing a convex
achromatic lens at one end and a slit at the other with the slit at the focus of the lens;
light rays leave the slit as a parallel beam
Coelostat
optical device used to follow the path of a celestial body and reflect
its light into a telescope; has a movable and a
fixed mirror
Camera Lucida
an optical device consisting of an attachment that
enables an observer to view simultaneously the
image and a drawing surface for sketching it
Biprisman optical device for obtaining interference fringes
How does photovoltaic cells
work?
What is Photovoltaic cell? Photovoltaic is the direct conversion of
light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, an electric current results that can be used as electricity.
The diagram above illustrates the operation of a basic photovoltaic cell, also called a solar cell. Solar cells are made of the same kinds of semiconductor materials, such as silicon, used in the microelectronics industry. For solar cells, a thin semiconductor wafer is specially treated to form an electric field, positive on one side and negative on the other. When light energy strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms in the semiconductor material.
If electrical conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides, forming an electrical circuit, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current -- that is, electricity. This electricity can then be used to power a load, such as a light or a tool.
A number of solar cells electrically connected to each other and mounted in a support structure or frame is called a photovoltaic module. Modules are designed to supply electricity at a certain voltage, such as a common 12 volts system. The current produced is directly dependent on how much light strikes the module.
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