Outlines an optics course, designed for science and nonscience majors, which emphasizes phenomena rather than mathematics. Indicates that the new curriculum permits liberal arts students to learn physics as well as the relationship of physics to society. (CC)

Presents an annotated list of 13 programs which are used to discuss such physical aspects as trajectories, refraction indices, equipotential lines, force fields, computer plots, kinematics applications, Fermat's principle, and measurements of electricity and magnetism knowledge. (CC)

Gives the findings on which the Institute's judgments were based. Facts are arranged by characteristic -- physical description, electrical and optical characteristics, operating features, and safety and maintenance factors. (Author)

Experiences and experiments with mirrors will spark pupils' imaginations while providing insights into the nature and behavior of light. (Author/DF)

Several activities related to color are discussed. These include placing different colors on a disk which, while spinning, appears to be white. Also discusses complementary and primary colors. (JN)

Presents a technique to produce samples for x-ray diffraction studies on the Tel-X-Ometer 80 x-ray apparatus from readily available crystalline powders and discusses observations of transverse modes of an optical resonator. (SK)

Discusses some examples of Fresnel diffraction. Diffraction effects caused by round holes, round obstacles, narrow slits, narrow obstacles, and transparent obstacles are included. (HM)

Discusses some basic physical ideas about light scattering and describes a simple Raman spectrometer, a single prism monochromator and a multiplier detector. This discussion is intended for British undergraduate physics students. (HM)

Presents a classical demonstration of polarization for high school students. The initial state of this model, which demonstrates the important concepts of the optical and quantum problems, was developed during the 1973 summer program on lecture demonstration at the U.S. Naval Academy. (HM)

Describes an experiment on light trapping in thin liquid films. Injection of a thin layer of solution at the boundary of a moving solvent is utilized to create a thin fluid sheet having an index of refraction greater than that of the surrounding medium. (Author/SA)

Describes how to measure Brewster's angle using Polaroid sunglasses and the reflection of the ceiling light on a polished floor. (GA)

Described is the sequence of topics, learning activities, materials and demonstrations for the course. It is stressed that students can learn these skills in less than 30 hours of instruction. (CW)

Discusses making a computer-simulated rainbow using principles of physics, such as reflection and refraction. Provides BASIC program for the simulation. Appends a program illustrating the effects of dispersion of the colors. (YP)