Introduction

WebTOP is a 3D interactive computer graphics system that instructors can use to help teach optics and that students learning optics can use to simulate and visualize optical phenomena.

WebTOP has a modular structure, and each module is designed to be: (a) interactive, (b) three-dimensional, and (c) animated (for those phenomena for which animation is appropriate).

Current modules are "Waves Simulation", "Lenses", "The Eye", "Reflection and Refraction Vectorial", "Reflection and Refraction Waves-Two Media", "Reflection and Refraction Waves-Three Media", "Planar Waveguide", "Polarization", "Michelson Interferometer", "Fabry-Perot Interferometer", "Fraunhofer N-Slit Diffraction", "Transmission Grating", "Fraunhofer Rayleigh Resolution", "Fresnel Single Slit", "Fresnel Circular", "Scattering" and "Lasers."

Click here to view videos illustrating features of some of the modules.