Light Science: Physics and the Visual Arts

by Thomas D. Rossing, Christopher J Chiaverina

Overview

Intended for anyone with an interest in the visual arts and assuming no prior knowledge of physics, this introduction presents the science of light--that is, the science behind what and how we see. The approach emphasizes phenomena rather than mathematical theory and the joy of discovery rather than the drudgery of derivations--the opposite of "heavy science". Numerous simple experiments are included. 260 illus.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387988276
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	09/24/1999
Series:	Undergraduate Texts in Contemporary Physics
Edition description:	1999
Pages:	442
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.05(d)

About the Author

Thomas Rossing, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Northern Illinois University, is currently a Visiting Professor at Stanford University. Since retiring from Northern Illinois he has also been a visiting professor at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and Seoul National University (Korea). He is the author of more than 400 publications (including 17 books, 9 U.S. and 11 foreign patents), He is a fellow of ASA, APS, AAAS, and IEEE. Mainly known for his books and papers in acoustics, he has also taught courses on physics for visual artists and has written two books on the subject. His biography appears in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and Who’s Who in America. He received the Millikan medal (AAPT) Silver Medal in Musical Acoustics and Gold Medal in Acoustics (ASA).

Chris Chiaverina taught high school physics for 34 years. He spent the last decade of his teaching career at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL where he served as director of The Connections Project, an initiative that employs interactive exhibits to demonstrate linkages among the arts, mathematics, and science. His approach to teaching physics was the subject of an installment of the PBS science series “The New Explorers.” Chiaverina has written articles on physics education for a variety of journals, is co-author of four textbooks, and has served on the editorial board of The Physics Teacher magazine. In 1997, The American Association of Physics Teachers presented him with its Award for Excellence in Pre-College Physics Teaching. In 2002, Chiaverina served as president of the American Association of Physic Teachers. He is currently editor of The Physics Teacher magazine’s “Little Gems” column and presenter of workshops for science teachers in the United States and abroad.

Table of Contents

Our World of Light and Color.- The Mystery of Light.- Reflection.- Refraction.- Interference and Diffraction.- Light Sources.- Polarized Light.- Color Vision.- Holography.- Photography.- Computer Images.- Optical Recording, Communication and Photonics.- Symmetry in Art and Nature.- Visual Illusions.

Editorial Reviews

…aspects of this book are gems and I felt almost driven to want to develop a course which might be based on sections of it…the authors show deep knowledge of and empathy for their material. It is fascinating and close to inspirational…the experiments are the crowning glory and make the book worth every penny for the university teacher of light and optics. This is brilliant stuff.

—The Physicist

From the Publisher