The Zoom Lens

By Alan Cheville, Misa Scepanovic

Abstract

A motion picture company (circa 1950) is having problems with antiquated equipment. The director, actors, and crew all want the CEO of the company, who is notorious for being tight with money, to invest in a newly developed zoom lens. Students are asked to take the part of an engineering design team and design a zoom lens that meets certain specifications. They first write a proposal for the project, then build the lens in the lab. The final activity is a written report with supporting data, models, and measurements. The case was developed for use in an undergraduate laboratory course sequence in photonics for junior and senior level students.

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Date Posted

03/22/2002

Overview

Objectives

To provide a means for students to apply basic principles of geometrical optics (refractive index, Huygen's, Fermat's, Fresnel's laws); images (formation, real vs. virtual); thin and thick lens equations; mirrors; imaging with multiple lens systems; magnification; ABCD matrix formalism; aberrations (causes, types, and effects; techniques for minimizing aberrations; aperture stops or pupils; and basic optical systems (telescopes and microscopes) to a real-world situation.
To create a relevant laboratory exercise to stimulate the students’ desire to learn.
To mimic the environment found in academic and industrial research laboratories in order to give the students a sense of what real research entails.
To provide exercises in teamwork and written communication.

Keywords

Zoom lens; optics; Huygen's law; Fermat's law; Fresnel's law; aberration; aperture; image

Subject Headings

Electrical Engineering

Physics

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate upper division

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Laboratory

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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