Physics and the Visual
Arts, a three-credit course in light, color, and vision, and its one-credit laboratory are being offered
for Fall 2011. The course incorporates a multi-media presentation of the content along with a
well-organized hands-on laboratory component. It is mandatory that
all students taking the course enroll in both PHYS 153 and PHYS 153L.
Physics and the Visual Arts includes
many topics that usually are not covered in most general physics courses
such as PHYS 201-202 at the University of South Carolina. Topics covered
include the basic properties of light, geometrical optics of reflections
and refractions, mirrors and lenses, cameras and photography, the eye and
vision, image processing in the eye, depth perception and three-dimensional
imaging, color production and color perception, color photography and video, digital photography,
wave optics, polarization, and holography. 
Homework will be required and will be submitted via the Internet on a regular schedule. Laboratory
reports will be submitted electronically, also. There will be one mid-term test and a
comprehensive final
exam. Both the mid-term and the final will be in a multiple-choice format and will be administered
electronically. Further details may be
found in the syllabus.