Course detail

General Physics III (Vibrations, Waves and Optics)

FSI-TF3Acad. year: 2025/2026

Vibrations, waves and optics is a lecture trying to unify physical phenomena as periodic motion, oscillations and waves in different parts of physics as in mechanics, acoustics, electricity and especially in optics. To understand the lecture it is necessary to be familiar with the introductory lectures Mechanics and molecular physics and Electricity and magnetism. The optics covers all fundamental chapters of basic university course.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Vlastimil Křápek, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Physical Engineering (ÚFI)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of mechanics, electricity and magnetism in the range of standard university courses, practical knowledge of mathematical analysis.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

2 written tests in term. Examination has written and oral part.
80% attendance in classes and passing two written tests.

Aims

1. Knowledge about a variety of physical phenomena, including mechanical and electrical oscillations, mechanical and electromagnetic waves and optics, at the level of the basic course of general physics.
2. Appreciation of the wide applicability of vibration and wave concepts.
3. Experience with the related mathematical description.

Students acquire basic knowledge of physics of periodic oscillations, waves and optics and the related calculus. Students gain an appreciation of the wide applicability of the presented concepts and acquire practical skills with related problems.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Basic literature

FRENCH, A.P.: Vibrations and Waves. Norton, 1971 (EN)
HALLIDAY, D. - RESNICK, R. - WALKER, J.: Fyzika (2. vydání). VUTIUM, Brno 2013. (CS)
KUBĚNA, J.: Úvod do optiky. MU Brno 1994, skriptum. (CS)
MAIN, I. G.: Kmity a vlny ve fyzice. Academia, 1990. (CS)

Recommended reading

HALLIDAY, D. - RESNICK, R. - WALKER, J.: Fyzika. VUTIUM, Brno 2001 (CS)
HALLIDAY, D. - RESNICK, R. - WALKER, J.: Fyzika (2. vydání). VUTIUM, Brno 2013. (CS)
KUBĚNA, J.: Úvod do optiky. MU Brno 1994, skriptum. (CS)
KVASNICA, J.: Matematický aparát fyziky. Academia, 1997. (CS)
MAIN, I. G.: Kmity a vlny ve fyzice. Academia, 1990. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-FIN-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Vlastimil Křápek, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Vibrations: Simple harmonic motion, examples of harmonic oscillators, damped oscillator, forced vibrations and resonance. Superposition of periodic motions. Fourier series, Fourier transforms, linear systems. Coupled oscillators and normal modes.
Waves: Progressive waves in continuous media. Waves on a string, wave equation, standing waves. Reflection and transmission of wave pulses. Dispersion, wave packets and group velocity. Sound waves in gas, waves in 3D, interference, Doppler effect.
Optics: Wave solutions to Maxwell’s equations in vacuum, electromagnetic waves in matter, plane waves, polarization. Reflection and refraction, total reflection, evanescent wave. Geometrical optics, images, lenses and mirrors, simple optical devices. Interference of light, double-slit experiment, coherence, interference from thin films, interferometers. Diffraction of light, Huyghens principle, diffraction from single slit, circular aperture, and multiple slit. Diffraction gratings. Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction, angular spectrum representation, Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction integral.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Vlastimil Křápek, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Solving the theoretical exercises and problems with close connection with lectures.