What Brock calendar entry says:

• Geometrical and wave optics, reflection, refraction, lenses, matrix methods, aberrations, gradient index phenomena including fibre optics, interference, coherence, holography, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction and polarization

What do I need to bring into the course?

• In this course some simple derivatives, integrals and matrices will be used, so it is important that the students feel comfortable with the calculus covered in Y1 mathematics courses. The course will build on the optics covered in first year Physics courses. As such, the prerequisites are: PHYS 1P21, 1P91 or 1P95; PHYS 1P22, 1P92 or 1P96; MATH 1P01 or 1P05; MATH 1P02 or 1P06.

Times and Locations

• Lectures MW 9-10:30 am TH258
• Labs/Tutorials Monday or Thursday 2-5 pm MCH308 (labs) MCB203 (tutorials).
• Labs/Tutorials will begin week of Jan. 19 2026

Textbook

• Pedrottis' Introduction to Optics, fourth edition, Rayf Shiell and Iain McNab with contributions by Matthew Romerein, Cambridge University Press, 2024.

Course Fee

• CAD 10 (Lab Consumables)

Important Dates Jan-Apr. 2026 (FW25/36D3)

• First day of classes: Jan. 5
• Last day of classes: Apr. 3
• Snow/Reading Days: Apr. 7
• Reading Week: Feb. 16-20
• Exams Apr. 9-22
• Deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty: March 5

Component	PHYS 2P51	Comments
Webwork T/F Reading Quizzes	10%	Approximately one quiz to be completed before every lecture.
Webwork Homework Assignments	15%	Approximately one assignment every two weeks.
Term Test 1	12.5%	During scheduled time slot Wednesday February 4th.
Term Test 2	12.5%	During scheduled time slot Wednesday March 11th.
final exam	25%	You must obtain a grade of 40% or greater on the final exam in order to pass the course.
lab/tutorials	25% ( approximately 10x2.5%)	Both attending the lab/tutorial sessions and submitting/completing the assigned work is required to complete a lab/tutorial. Due dates will depend on lab schedule.

This is an approximate list . As the course progresses, some of topics may be removed and some others may get added.

• Reflection and Refraction
• Reflection at a Curved Interface
• Refraction at a Spherical Surface
• Thin Lenses
• Vergence, Refractive Power, Newton's Lens Equation
• Prisms
• Stops, Pupils and Windows
• Aberrations
• GRIN and Fiber Optics
• Matrix Method
• Superposition of Waves
• Interference
• Interferometry and Temporal Coherence
• Coherence and Diffraction
• Fraunhofer Diffraction
• Fresnel Diffraction
• Other Diffraction Phenomena
• Polarization