Ray tracing

02/28/17

“How can we represent light rays interacting with lenses and mirrors?”
Even through the field of optics is a deep one, it is also quite simple. At its fundamental core, it is about the properties and interaction of light. This includes the subset of mirrors and lenses. So wouldn’t it be logical that we should develop a system to represent the interaction with lenses and mirrors? To start off, let’s construct the mirrors, lenses, and objects that we would like to work with. Next, label the center and focal point of the mirrors and lenses. Afterward, draw lines emanating from the object, and have it realistically interact with the optical instruments. Then draw the resulting image where all of the rays converge onto one another. This process is known as ray tracing, and is one of the most important tools used by researchers and students in optics.