IB Physics 1, Wozniak, Period 2 — May 10th, 2011

Notes — Technology & Digital/Analogue Notes

CAPACITOR

General: Stores electrons

Two metal plates with a dielectric (non-conductive substances)
Capacitance = ability to store energy
(Measured in Farads)

Types: Air capacitor used in radios

Mylar capacitor used for timer circuits
Glass capacitor good for high voltage applications
Ceramic capacitor for high frequency purposes
Super capacitors power electric cars

Categories: Polarized
Unpolarized
Variable
Trimmer

Uses: blocking direct current while allowing alternating current

In filter networks
For smoothing the output of power supplies
Maintain power supply while batteries are being changed
Timing
Tuning radios
Storing energy – camera flashes

CCD (CHARGED-COUPLED DEVICE)

General: Photosensitive component release energy when hit by light of certain wavelengths
(Note photoelectric effect)
Animation (.gif) of workings: http://crsn.im/NDal
Quantum efficiency: # of e- released for each photon
(around 90% efficient for CCDs)
Boer filters: filter light into different colors, allows for color images
Meh………

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RESOLUTION & DIGITAL CAMERAS

How it works: Mirrors in cameras

When you press shutter:
Light comes in
Convex lens causes convergence
Barrier goes up, light enters and hit sensors
Hits CCDs, translated into binary code e- à pixels, certain colors
Higher CCD pixel density = better image definition

Other: Nowadays, CCDs used less often, instead: Complimentary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor (CMOS) {less power but not as high quality,
cheaper cameras}
Separation of two pixels by another pixel required for resolved image

Diagram: http://crsn.im/UrT5 (used in presentation)

MALUS’S LAW OF POLARIZATION

Polarization: Differences between Polarized light vs. Unpolarized light

Polarized light: Waves have electric field lines that all line up
NB Putting blue light through polarizer, still comes out blue
Calcite crystal generates polarized light due to microetchings
Light through picket fence model

Math: Find vectoring by multiplying by cosine of theta (*cosΘ)

Vector of light is proportional to the square of the energy
Intensity proportional to cos2Θ :: I = I0 cos2Θ (I0 is unpolarized intensity)
NB When light enters a 90° angle, intensity would be 0, because cos(90)=0

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