Individual course details
Study programme Theoretical and experimental physics; Applied physics
Chosen research area (module)  
Nature and level of studies Undergraduate studies
Name of the course Waves and optics
Professor (lectures) Assoc. Prof. Dr Đorđe Spasojević
Professor/associate (examples/practical) Ass. Prof. Dr Savo Galijaš
Professor/associate (additional)  
ECTS 9 Status (required/elective) Mandatory
Access requirements Physical mechanics, Molecular physics and thermodynamics, Mathematics 1 and 2
Aims of the course Adoption of fundamental concepts and laws in the field of waves and optics, and familiarization with more complex phenomena
Learning outcomes Students are trained to independently solve basic problems and gain new knowledge about more complex physical phenomena and laws in the field of waves and optics
Contents of the course
Lectures 1. Free, damped, and forced oscillations of systems with one degree of freedom; resonance. 2. Oscillations of systems with two degrees of freedom; normal modes; resonance; filters; limit to continuous systems. 3. Wave equation in one dimension; transversal oscillations of a wire; standing waves; Fourier analysis. 4. Wave equation in three dimensions; phase velocity; progressive waves; plane waves and plane monochromatic waves. 5. Sound waves; energy and intensity of a sound wave; dispersion relation; group velocity. 6. Maxwell’s equations; electromagnetic waves in vacuum and in non-conducting media; energy of electromagnetic waves (Poynting vector and  wave intensity); electromagnetic spectrum. 7. Sources of electromagnetic waves; radiation of an accelerated charge; Larmor’s formula; Hertz experiment. 8. Geometric optics; eikonal approximation; Fermat’s principle; law of reflection and law of refraction; total reflection; lenses and mirrors. 9. Matrix methods in paraxial approximation (formation of image, cardinal elements, thin and thick lenses, and optical systems); optical instruments; lens imperfections. 10. Polarization of light (basic types; partial polarization). 11. Electromagnetic wave at the boundary between two optical media – reflection and refraction; amplitudes and phases of reflected wave and of refracted wave. 12. Superposition of waves; interference of waves; amplitude splitting and wave front splitting; space and time coherence; Young’s experiment; Fresnel’s biprism; Michelson’s interferometer; interference in a slab; Fabry-Perot interferometer. 13. Diffraction of waves (N coherent point sources, thread source); Kirchhoff’s formula and Huygens-Fresnel principle; Fresnel zones; diffraction at a circular aperture.  14. Fraunhofer’s  diffraction at a single slit; diffraction grating. 15. Double refraction of light; polarizers; dichroism; optical activity; Faraday’s and Kerr’s effect.  
Examples/ practical classes Examples; exercises (homework)
Recommended books
1 F.S. Crawford, Waves - Berkeley Physics Course - volume 3, McGraw-Hill
2 А.А. Matveev, Optics, Mir publishers, Moscow
3 E. Hecht, Optics, Addison Wesley
4 N.N. Nedeljković, Talasi i optika, skripta (PDF)
Number of classes (weekly)
Lectures Examples&practicals   Student project Additional
4 3      
Teaching and learning methods Lectures (theory and examples), exercises (homework), consultations.
Assessment (maximal 100)
assesed coursework mark examination mark
coursework 10 written examination 30
practicals 10 oral examination 40
papers      
presentations 10