Geometrical Optics Study Guide This lesson introduces you to the
concept of optics and the geometrical analysis of optical
phenomena. We will study the concept of light rays, the laws of
reflection, the laws of refraction, and the total internal
reflection. The study of light encompasses many fields of
physics, from mechanics to quantum mechanics and from classical
to modern physics. Isaac Newton explained reflection and
refraction phenomena based on particle motion, and Max Planck's
particle theory explained radiation. On the other hand, the
theories of electricity, magnetism, and waves explained light
behavior as a wave, as Christian Huygens and James Maxwell did
in their theories. A dual explanation of the properties and
processes in which light is involved emerged through history. In
this lesson, we will address the particle explanation of light.
The geometrical analysis of light propagation assumes that light
travels in a straight line through a medium and between two
points. If the optical properties of