Coursera

Geometrical and Physical Optics (Coursera)

Offered by Rice University,
Geometrical and Physical Optics (Coursera)

This third course serves as an introduction to the physics of waves and light. Upon completion, learners will understand how mathematical laws and conservation principles describe wave propagation and light in the context of both geometrical and physical optics. Learners will gain experience in solving physics problems with tools such as graphical analysis, algebra, vector analysis, and calculus.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This third course covers the Lens Equation, Image Formation, Interference, and Diffraction. Each of the three modules contains complete video lectures, conceptual quizzes, and a set of homework problems. Once the modules are completed, the course ends with an exam. This comprehensive course is similar in detail and rigor to those taught on-campus at Rice. It will thoroughly prepare learners for their upcoming introductory physics courses or more advanced courses in physics.
This course is part of the Waves and Optics Specialization.

What you'll learn

  • Learners will be prepared to evaluate real-world data regarding optical devices
  • Learners can solve complicated mathematical problems related to optical interference, diffraction, and optical devices.
  • Learners will be prepared for more advanced courses in physics.

Syllabus

Geometrical Optics
Interference
Diffraction
Geometrical and Physical Optics Exam

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Physics of silicon solar cells (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique

Physics of silicon solar cells (Coursera)

Sci: Physics

The first MOOC “Photovoltaic solar energy” is a general presentation of the solar photovoltaics technologies in the global energetic context, without extensive details. In particular the description of the solar cell operation is restricted to the ideal case. In contrast this second MOOC allows a deep understanding of the properties of solar cells based on crystalline semiconductors.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Physics Semiconductors Solar Cells
Details
The Discovery of the Higgs Boson (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

The Discovery of the Higgs Boson (Coursera)

Sci: Physical & Earth Sciences Sci: Physics

The discovery of a new fundamental particle at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), CERN is the latest step in a long quest seeking to answer one of physics’ most enduring questions: why do particles have mass? The experiments’ much anticipated success confirms predictions made decades earlier by Peter Higgs and others, and offers a glimpse into a universe of physics beyond the Standard Model.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Physics Relativity Quantum Mechanics
Details
The Sun and the Total Eclipse of August 2017 (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

The Sun and the Total Eclipse of August 2017 (Coursera)

Sci: Physical & Earth Sciences Sci: Physics

A total eclipse is one of the most spectacular sights you can ever see! It looks like the end of the world may be at hand. There is a black hole in the sky where the sun should be. Pink flames of solar prominences and long silver streamers of the sun's corona stretch across the sky. It gets cold, and animals do strange things. People scream and shout and cheer, and remember the experience their whole life. But total eclipses are important scientifically as well.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Astronomy Physics Sun
Details
Introduction to Particle Accelerators (NPAP MOOC) (Coursera) Coursera
Lund University

Introduction to Particle Accelerators (NPAP MOOC) (Coursera)

Engineering Science

Welcome to the Nordic Particle Accelerator Program's (NPAP) Massive Open Online Courses and to the fascinating world of particle accelerators! Did you know that in the year of 2000 there were more than 15 000 particle accelerators in the world? Yet, today it has grown to more than 30 000 of them! A third of the particle accelerators are dedicated to medical applications, such as radio therapy, and a half are used for ion implantation in semiconductor devices.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Physics Photon Accelerators
Details
Global Warming I: The Science and Modeling of Climate Change (Coursera) Coursera
University of Chicago

Global Warming I: The Science and Modeling of Climate Change (Coursera)

Sci: Energy & Earth Sciences Sci: Physical & Earth Sciences

This class describes the science of global warming and the forecast for humans’ impact on Earth’s climate. Intended for an audience without much scientific background but a healthy sense of curiosity, the class brings together insights and perspectives from physics, chemistry, biology, earth and atmospheric sciences, and even some economics—all based on a foundation of simple mathematics (algebra).

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Science Global Warming Earth
Details
Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success (Coursera) Coursera
Imperial College London

Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success (Coursera)

Personal and Professional Development

In today’s ever-growing and changing world, being able to think creatively and innovatively are essential skills. It can sometimes be challenging to step back and reflect in an environment which is fast paced or when you are required to assimilate large amounts of information. Making sense of or communicating new ideas in an innovative and engaging way, approaching problems from fresh angles, and producing novel solutions are all traits which are highly sought after by employers.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Personal Development Creativity Brainstorming
Details
Flight mechanics - The basis (Coursera) Coursera
ISAE-SUPAERO

Flight mechanics - The basis (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Physics

More than one century after the Wright brothers' first flight, the flight still defy our intuition. You will learn here how to name the different parts of the airplane and how to describe and quantify its geometry. For that, we need now to share a precise vocabulary to describe the airplane's movement and attitude in space, and a refresher on basic general mechanic principles. You will remind how Newton's 2nd law allows you to determine what force must be applied on an apple - or on an airplane, to modify the magnitude and direction of its speed.

Nov 16th 2026
3 Weeks
Physics Aerodynamics Flight Mechanics
Details
Understanding Modern Physics I: Relativity and Cosmology (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Understanding Modern Physics I: Relativity and Cosmology (Coursera)

Sci: Physics

The 20th century was known as the century of physics. In the past 120 years, concepts such as space, time, energy, entropy and particles were understood to much deeper levels. New paradigms of thinking such as relativity and quantum mechanics emerged. This course is the first course in the Understanding Modern Physics series, which covers an introduction to special relativity, general relativity and cosmology.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cosmology Physics Relativity
Details
Density Functional Theory (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique

Density Functional Theory (Coursera)

Sci: Physics

The aim of this course is to give a thorough introduction to Density Functional Theory (DFT). DFT is today the most widely used method to study interacting electrons, and its applicability ranges from atoms to solid systems, from nuclei to quantum fluids. In this course, we introduce the most important concepts underlying DFT, its foundation, and basic ideas. We will in particular stress the features and reasons that lead DFT to become the dominant method for simulating quantum mechanical systems.

Nov 16th 2026
3 Weeks
Physics Quantum Atomic Physics
Details
Transmission electron microscopy for materials science (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Transmission electron microscopy for materials science (Coursera)

Sci: Physics

Learn about the fundamentals of transmission electron microscopy in materials sciences: you will be able to understand papers where TEM has been used and have the necessary theoretical basis for taking a practical training on the TEM. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the field of materials science.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Optics Diffraction Imaging
Details