Using a linear approximation for single-surface refraction to explain some virtual image phenomena

American Journal of Physics

Volumn 64, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 256-264

  Galili, Igal ^a   Goldberg, Fred ^b  

^a HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM   (Israel)

^b SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0030537146     PISSN: 00029505     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1119/1.18213     Document Type: Article

References (21)

1. F. Goldberg and L. C. McDermott, "Student difficulties in understanding image formation by a plane mirror," Phys. Teach. 24, 472-480 (1986).
2. F. Goldberg and L. C. McDermott, "An investigation of student understanding of the real image formed by a converging lens or concave mirror," Am. J. Phys. 55, 108-119 (1987).
3. I. Galili, S. Bendall, and F. Goldberg, "The effects of prior knowledge and instruction on understanding image formation," J. Res. Sci. Teach. 30 (3), 271-301 (1993).
4. M. Ronen and B. S. Eylon, "To see or not to see: the eye in geometrical optics-when and how?," Phys. Educ. 28, 52-59 (1993).
5. P. A. Tipler, Physics (Worth, New York, 1991), p. 1024.
6. A. Hudson and R. Nelson, University Physics (Saunders College. Philadelphia, 1990), p. 848.
7. A. A. Bartlett, R. Lucero, and G. O. Johnson, "Note on a common virtual image," Am. J. Phys. 52(7), 640-643 (1984).
8. A. B. Nassar, "Apparent depth," Phys. Teach. 32, 526-529 (1994).
9. G. O. Johnson, A. A. Bartlett, and E. Mosca, "Further Illuminating comments on Rays and Images," Phys. Teach. 33, 198-199 (1995).
10. M. Ronen, B. Eylon, O. Rivlin, and U. Ganiel, "Designing and Using an Open Graphic Interface for Instruction in Geometric Optics," Comput. Educ. 20(4), 299-309 (1993).
11. M. Ronen and O. Rivlin, "Ray," available for the Macintosh computer from Physics Academic Software, c/o The Academic Software Library, Box 8202, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8202, 800-955-TASL.
12. E. Mach, The Principals of Physical Optics (Dover, New York, 1926), p. 29.
13. M. Gliozzi, Storia della Fisica ("Storia delle Scienze," Vol. 2, Torino, Italy, 1965).
14. E. J. Dijksterhuis, The Mechanization of the World Picture (Princeton U.P., Princeton, NJ, 1986).
15. Reference 14, pp. 388-389.
16. V. Ronchi, Optics: The Science of Vision (Dover, New York, 1991), p. 42.
17. S. Bendall and F. Goldberg, "Building a Qualitative Understanding of Geometrical Optics," manuscript available from the second author (FG).
18. F. Goldberg and S. Bendall, "Making the Invisible Visible: A Teaching/ Learning Environment that Builds on a New View of the Physics Learner," Am. J. Phys. 63(11), 978-991 (1995).
19. F. Goldberg, "Describing refraction in terms of the deviation of the light," Phys. Teach. 23, 34-35 (1985).
20. A large version of the prism is available from Klinger Educational Products Corporation, 83-85 Parsons Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11432, 718-297-8080.
21. It is interesting to note that students who are struggling with this task have a propensity to begin by drawing a single ray from the object to the prism, along the normal. Having done this, they often then invent ingenious ways to show how this single ray can split into two rays (violating physics principles) that they presume must ultimately enter the eye. These student responses are discussed in Ref. 3.