An optical bench is an apparatus that is used in physics labs. These benches consist of a rigid and long member that is equipped with a linear scale. It also bears the light holders and lenses. Small screens are positioned on the apparatus. The screen blocks the excess light from propagating any forward.
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What is an Optical Bench
An optical bench is a platform that is predominantly used to hold systems employed for optics experiments and constructions. It can also be defined as a bench on which all lenses and devices are clamped, keeping the principal axis for ideal optical alignment. The surfaces of these benches are created to be very compact with the least deflection so that the alignment of optical components stays stable over time. Numerous optical systems need vibration of optical components that are kept to a minimum. As a result, optical benches are usually very heavy. They have inbuilt vibration isolation and damping qualities in their overall structure. In some cases, pneumatic isolators behave as mechanical low-pass filters, decreasing the effect of vibrations in the ground to create vibrations on the tabletop.
Optical benches used in labs are rigged out with independent devices such as holders, measuring microscopes, collimators, and telescopes on the rail base. Devices may vary according to the needs of each experiment. They are laid out and regulated as they are needed to do multiple test activities. The optical benches used for physics experiments consist of guide rails, sliding seats, light sources, adjustable slits, image screens and different holders. According to the experiments’ requirement, extra optical devices such as prisms, lenses and polarisation sheets are clamped onto the optical system. The length of the conventional guide rail is about 100-200cm with a ruler. It also has a positioning line on the moving seat, which is useful for determining the location of the optical element.
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Essential Points to Follow while Using an Optical Bench
Calibrate the level adjustment screw (by a spirit level) at the base corner of the bench to level it.
Calibrating the coaxial contour of individual components of the optical system is a primary requirement in optical tests.
Calibrate the optical axis of individual optical elements in the optical systems to make it coaxial. It also helps to allow the imaging beam emanated by the body to meet the necessities of partial rays.
Optical Bench Use Cases
Here are some use cases of an optical bench:
- Study of the image formation of the source.
- Analysis of reversibility of light.
- Examine the dispersion of light.
- Understanding ray optics by ray tracing.
- Study of reflection of light.
- To find the critical angle and obtain total internal reflection.
- To find the focal length of a concave mirror using two pin technique.
- To find the refractive index of a semi-circle lens using Snell’s law.
- Find the focal length of the convex lens using the basic lens equation.
- Calculate the magnification of the image of the convex lens.
- To find the focal length of a convex lens using two pin technique.
- Study of the divergent and convergent lens by object and image relationships.
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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What is an optical bench?
An optical bench is a platform that is predominantly used to hold systems employed for optical-related experiments and constructions. It can also be defined as a bench on which all lenses and devices are clamped, keeping the principal axis for ideal optical alignment. The surfaces of these benches are created to be very compact with the least deflection so that the alignment of optical components stays stable over time. Numerous optical systems need vibration of optical components that are kept to a minimum. As a result, optical benches are usually very heavy. They have inbuilt vibration isolation and damping qualities in their overall structure.
What are the secondary components of an optical bench?
The optical benches used for physics experiments consist of guide rails, sliding seats, lights sources, adjustable slits, image screens and different holders. According to the experiments’ requirement, extra optical devices such as prisms, lenses and polarisation sheets are clamped onto the optical system. The length of the conventional guide rail is about 100-200cm with a ruler. It also has a positioning line on the moving seat, which is useful for determining the location of the optical element.
What are the essential points to follow while using an optical bench?
Calibrate the level adjustment screw (by a spirit level) at the base corner of the bench to level it.
Calibrating the coaxial contour of individual components of the optical system is a primary requirement in optical tests.
Calibrate the optical axis of individual optical elements in the optical systems to make it coaxial. It also helps to allow the imaging beam emanated by the body to meet the necessities of partial rays.
What is the fundamental use of an optical bench?
An optical bench is fundamentally used to observe image formation.
Give a few experiments that use optical benches.
To find the critical angle and obtain total internal reflection.
To find the focal length of a concave mirror using two pin technique.
To find the refractive index of a semi-circle lens using Snell’s law.
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