Teaching about Waves with Applications in Lenses

Abstract

The paper examines ways of teaching wave pulses traveling on strings and wave fronts in two dimensional waves. The phenomena examined for pulses are: reflection, transmission and superposition. Two methods of finding the refracted wave fronts, the corresponding rays and the refraction angle are presented. Then the gradual change of the speed of propagation of a wave is presented. In the last part is examined the application of the concept of wave fronts in lenses and Huygens’ method of finding the shape of a perfect lens. The students’ difficulties with connection with all these subjects are presented.