Thinking Problems: Optics

Teaching Physics with the Physics Suite
Edward F. Redish

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Thinking Problems: Optics

Problem Name	Multiple-Choice/Short Answer	Multiple-Choice/Multiple Response	Representation Translation	Ranking Tasks	Context-Based Reasoning Problems	Estimation Problems	Qualitative Questions	Essay Questions
OP1. Measuring the speed of light a la Galileo						X		X
*OP2. Speed of light and the GPS system ()**					X	X
*OP3. Bizarre behavior with light ()**					X		X	X
OP4. Tracking a plane wave in a box (*)			X
OP5. Boiling water in a microwave					X	X
OP6. Laser eye surgery *()**					X	X
OP7. Insolation of the earth (*)						X	X
*OP8. Closer than they may appear ()**					X		X
*OP09. Where can you see the bulb? ()**							X
*OP10. Who sees what? ()**	X		X				X
*OP11. The camera and the slide projector ()**					X		X
*OP12. Mirrors and lenses ()**	X						X
OP13. What happens if a double slit winks?							X	X
OP14. Changing interference *()**							X
OP15. E-field and string pulses			X				X	X
OP16. Hearing and seeing around a corner *()**					X
*OP17. The diverging lens ()**			X				X
*OP18. The half lens ()**	X						X
OP19. Alice in the looking-glass			X		X		X
OP20. A bigger lens			X	X			X
OP21. A fishy lens *()**							X
OP22. Electromagnetic light								X
OP23. Properties of EM Waves		X	X
OP24. Where's the image?	X						X
*OP25. Representing an interference pattern ()**			X			X
*OP26. The microscope ()**			X		X
*OP27. The world in a spoon ()**					X		X
*OP28. Possible mirrors? ()**							X
*OP29. Changing double slits ()**				X			X
*OP30. Snell's law for ultrasound ()**					X		X	X
OP31. On the mirror								X
*OP32. The lit/unlit bulb ()**					X
OP33. One more mirror					X
OP34. Shifting light and shadow (*)					X
OP35. Find your focus					X
*OP36. Now that's surprising ()**								X
OP37. Looking into a mirror ball					X
OP38. Failure of the ray model								X
OP39. Bobbing boats				X
OP40. The magnifying glass			X		X
OP41. A digital camera lens						X
*OP42. Closer than they appear ()**					X
*OP43. TV vs mirror ()**					X		X
OP44. Interfering atoms					X
OP45. Choosing a lens			X		X

(*) Problems marked with an asterisk have web solutions available. Click on the asterisk to go to the solution. A password is required. Contact redish@umd.edu to get access.

Page last modified January 18, 2012