WClasses

PHYS 256 - Geometrical and Physical Optics

Geometrical optics: image formation, ray tracing through multiple optical components, dispersion by prisms, optical fibers, optical instruments - eyes, telescopes, microscopes, and cameras, introduction to aberrations; physical optics: interference and interferometers, diffraction, imaging resolution, diffraction gratings and their use in spectroscopy; wave-particle duality; introduction to the electromagnetic nature of light and polarization.

Prerequisites

PHYS112 or PHYS122; One of MATH128, MATH138, MATH148.

Corequisites

None

Antirequisites

ECE404

Offerings

Winter 2026 [1261]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7176	54 / 60

Fall 2025 [1259]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7635	182 / 180	13:00 - 14:20	T,Th

Winter 2025 [1251]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7313	55 / 60

Winter 2024 [1241]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7391	56 / 60

Fall 2023 [1239]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7444	134 / 180	10:00 - 11:20	M,W
TUT 101	7445	134 / 180	09:30 - 10:20	F

Winter 2023 [1231]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7546	54 / 60				Joe Sanderson

Fall 2022 [1229]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	8563	0 / 180
TUT 101	8564	0 / 180

Winter 2022 [1221]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	8275	51 / 60				Joe Sanderson

Fall 2021 [1219]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7570	140 / 180	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th		Melanie Campbell
TUT 101	7571	140 / 180	08:00 - 08:50	W		Melanie Campbell

Fall 2020 [1209]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Instructor
LEC 001	7455	60 / 60			Joe Sanderson
LEC 041	7404	166 / 180			Melanie Campbell
TUT 141	7405	166 / 180	08:00 - 08:50	M	Melanie Campbell

Fall 2019 [1199]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7253	152 / 200	11:30 - 12:50	T,Th	DC 1351	Kyung Choi
LEC 002	7305	57 / 200
TUT 101	7254	152 / 200	12:30 - 13:20	M	DC 1351	Kyung Choi

Fall 2018 [1189]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7120	158 / 200	11:30 - 12:50	T,Th	DC 1350	Kazi Rajibul Islam
LEC 002	7174	57 / 60				Joseph Sanderson
TUT 101	7121	158 / 200	10:30 - 11:20	M	DC 1350	Kazi Rajibul Islam

Fall 2017 [1179]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7210	134 / 200	11:30 - 12:50	T,Th	PHY 145	Kazi Rajibul Islam
LEC 002	7270	56 / 60				Joseph Sanderson
TUT 101	7211	134 / 200	11:30 - 12:20	F	PHY 145	Kazi Rajibul Islam

Fall 2016 [1169]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7161	163 / 200	11:30 - 12:50	T,Th	AL 113	Eduardo Martin-Martinez
LEC 002	7236	53 / 60				Joseph Sanderson
TUT 101	7162	163 / 200	17:30 - 18:20	T	RCH 101	Eduardo Martin-Martinez

Fall 2015 [1159]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7357	108 / 180	11:30 - 12:50	T,Th	B1 271	Melanie C Campbell
LEC 002	7441	36 / 60
TUT 101	7358	108 / 180	15:30 - 16:20	M	PHY 145	Melanie C Campbell

Winter 2015 [1151]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7044	21 / 40	13:00 - 14:20	T,Th	RCH 305	Kyung Soo Choi
LEC 002	8720	0 / 1
TUT 101	7045	21 / 40	16:30 - 17:20	W	RCH 309	Kyung Soo Choi

Fall 2014 [1149]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7076	122 / 115	10:00 - 11:20	W,F	RCH 112	Parisa Bohlouli Zanjani
LEC 002	7323	49 / 60				Joseph Sanderson
TUT 101	7077	122 / 115	16:30 - 17:20	M	RCH 112

Winter 2014 [1141]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7277	17 / 40	13:00 - 14:20	T,Th	EV2 2002	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	7278	17 / 40	13:30 - 14:20	W	PHY 308	Melanie C Campbell

Fall 2013 [1139]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	6701	83 / 99	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	6702	83 / 99	17:30 - 18:20	T	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell

Fall 2012 [1129]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	7460	75 / 99	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	7461	75 / 99	17:30 - 18:20	T	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell

Spring 2012 [1125]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	3888	52 / 99	10:00 - 11:20	T,Th	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	3889	52 / 99	14:30 - 15:20	Th	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell

Winter 2012 [1121]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	5981	37 / 60	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th	PHY 235	Michel Fich
TUT 101	6149	37 / 60	19:00 - 19:50	T	PHY 235	Michel Fich

Spring 2011 [1115]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	3763	46 / 99	10:00 - 11:20	T,Th	PHY 150	Walter W Duley
TUT 101	3764	46 / 99	14:30 - 15:20	Th	PHY 150	Walter W Duley

Winter 2011 [1111]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	5975	40 / 60	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th	PHY 235	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	6174	40 / 60	10:30 - 11:20	W	PHY 235	Melanie C Campbell

Spring 2010 [1105]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	5588	37 / 99	10:00 - 11:20	T,Th	PHY 150	James D D Martin
TUT 101	5590	37 / 99	14:30 - 15:20	Th	PHY 150	James D D Martin

Winter 2010 [1101]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	5991	44 / 60	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th	PHY 235	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	6228	44 / 60	10:30 - 11:20	W	PHY 235	Melanie C Campbell

Spring 2009 [1095]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	3639	40 / 99	10:00 - 11:20	T,Th	PHY 150	Walter W Duley
TUT 101	3640	40 / 99	14:30 - 15:20	Th	PHY 150	Walter W Duley

Winter 2009 [1091]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	5107	31 / 60	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th	PHY 313	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	5376	31 / 60	10:30 - 11:20	W	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell

Spring 2008 [1085]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	3049	38 / 99	10:00 - 11:20	T,Th	PHY 150	James D D Martin
TUT 101	3050	38 / 99	14:30 - 15:20	Th	PHY 150	James D D Martin

Winter 2008 [1081]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	4285	35 / 60	08:30 - 09:50	T,Th	PHY 313	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	5351	35 / 60	10:30 - 11:20	W	PHY 313

Spring 2007 [1075]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	2613	29 / 99	10:00 - 11:20	T,Th	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	2614	29 / 99	14:30 - 15:20	Th	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell

Winter 2007 [1071]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	4197	35 / 40	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F	PHY 150	James D D Martin

Spring 2006 [1065]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	2623	25 / 99	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	2624	25 / 99	10:00 - 10:50	Th	PHY 150	Melanie C Campbell

Winter 2006 [1061]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	4144	34 / 40	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F,A,L		James D D Martin

Spring 2005 [1055]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	2631	50 / 99	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F,P,H,Y		Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	2632	50 / 99	10:00 - 10:50	Th,P,H,Y		Melanie C Campbell

Winter 2005 [1051]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	4087	47 / 99	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F,P,H,Y		James D D Martin

Spring 2004 [1045]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	2461	50 / 99	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F,P,H,Y		Melanie C Campbell
TUT 101	2462	50 / 99	09:00 - 09:50	Th,P,H,Y		Melanie C Campbell

Winter 2004 [1041]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	3919	35 / 99	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F,P,H,Y		Firas K Mansour

Spring 2003 [1035]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	2743	43 / 99	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F,P,H,Y		John Vanderkooy
TUT 101	2744	43 / 99	09:00 - 09:50	Th,P,H,Y		John Vanderkooy

Winter 2003 [1031]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
LEC 001	5047	39 / 99	10:30 - 11:20	M,W,F,P,H,Y		Bruce Torrie

Fall 2001 [1019]

Section	Class	Enrolled	Time	Days	Location	Instructor
		/

UW Flow Ratings

Liked: 43.88%

43.88%

Easy: 39.75%

39.75%

Useful: 54.03 %

54.03%

PHYS 256 leads to

PHYS 270 - Astronomical Observations, Instrumentation and Data Analysis

PHYS 356 - Optics 1

PHYS 375 - Stars

PHYS 393 - Physical Optics

PHYS 394 - Light-Matter Interactions

PHYS 396 - Biophysics of Imaging

PHYS 445 - Modern Optics

PHYS 270L - Astronomical Observations, Instrumentation, and Data Analysis Laboratory

PHYS 256L - Optics Laboratory

PHYS 456 - Optics 2