Light Science: Physics and the Visual Arts (Undergraduate Texts in Contemporary Physics) - Hardcover

Rossing, Thomas D.; Chiaverina, Christopher J

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0387988270 ISBN 13: 9780387988276

Publisher: Springer, 1999

Synopsis

Intended for students in the visual arts and for others with an interest in art, but with no prior knowledge of physics, this book presents the science behind what and how we see. The approach emphasises phenomena rather than mathematical theories and the joy of discovery rather than the drudgery of derivations. The text includes numerous problems, and suggestions for simple experiments, and also considers such questions as why the sky is blue, how mirrors and prisms affect the colour of light, how compact disks work, and what visual illusions can tell us about the nature of perception. It goes on to discuss such topics as the optics of the eye and camera, the different sources of light, photography and holography, colour in printing and painting, as well as computer imaging and processing.

About this title

Review:

...aspects of this book are gems and I felt almost driven to want to develop a course which might be based on sections of it...the authors show deep knowledge of and empathy for their material. It is fascinating and close to inspirational...the experiments are the crowning glory and make the book worth every penny for the university teacher of light and optics. This is brilliant stuff.

--The Physicist

About this edition

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0387988270
• ISBN 13: 9780387988276
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 458