Code Number: 6A65.31

Demo Title: Distortion - Coma

Condition: Good

Principle: Off Axis Lens Effects

Area of Study: Optics

Equipment:

Optics Table, 30 cm focal length lens, 48 cm focal length lens, Slide Projector (Distant Light).

Procedure:

Coma - Set up is the same as that for Chromatic Aberration. Turn the lens so that it is no longer perpendicular to the angle of the light from the slide projector. A figure that looks like a bow tie will be produced with one lobe red ringed and one lobe blue ringed.

References:

John H. Moore, Christopher C. Davis, Michael A. Coplan, "Coma", Building Scientific Apparatus 2nd Edition, p. 146.
C. Harvey Palmer, "Experiment A13: The Off-Axis Aberrations of Lenses", Optics - Experiments and Demonstrations, John Hopkins Press, 1962.

Disclaimer

These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.

Instructional Resources and Lecture Demonstrations

6A65.31 - Distortion - Coma

Disclaimer