Ray Optics Simulation
Create & simulate 2D geometric optical scenes interactively.
Totally free and web-based. Source code is available on GitHub.
Single ray
A single ray of light defined by two points.
Beam
A parallel or divergent beam of rays emerges from a line segment, with density controlled by the 'Ray density' slider.
Point source
Rays emerge from a single point, with number controlled by the 'Ray density' slider.
Mirror
Simulate the reflection of light on a mirror.
Mirror (Curved)
A mirror whose shape is curved. Can be circular, parabolic, or defined by a custom equation y = f(x).
Ideal curved mirror
The idealized 'curved' mirror which obeys exactly the mirror equation (1/p + 1/q = 1/f). The focal length can be set directly.
Beam Splitter
A mirror that transmits a percentage of incoming light.
Glass
Simulate the refraction and reflection of light on a surface.
Glass (Other shapes)
Glass with any shapes constructed from line segments and circular arcs, or shapes defined by a custom inequality f(x) < y < g(x).
Gradient-index glass
Material with a custom refractive index function n(x,y).
Ideal Lens
An ideal lens which obeys exactly the thin lens equation (1/p + 1/q = 1/f). The focal length can be set directly.
Blocker
A line-segment light blocker which absorbs the incident rays.
Diffraction Grating
A diffraction grating that splits light at an angle depending on wavelength.
Ruler
A ruler from a point for zero and another point.
Protractor
A protractor defined from the center and another point for the zero direction. The scale is in degrees.
Detector
A tool for measuring the rate of energy flow (P), the rate of perpendicular momentum flow (F⊥), and the rate of parallel momentum flow (F∥) through a line segment. The units are arbitrary.Rays
Show the rays. When the 'Ray density' is high, they appear to be continuous.
Extended rays
Show both the rays and its extension. Orange indicates backward extensions, and gray indicates forward ones.
All Images
Show the position of all images. Yellow points indicate real images, orange indicates virtual images, and gray (none in this picture) indicates virtual objects. Note that some images cannot be detected if 'Ray density' is not high enough.
Seen by Observer
Simulate the rays and images seen from some position. The blue circle is the observer. Any rays crossing it are considered to be 'observed'. The observer does not know where the rays actually begin, but may think they begin at some point(s) if they intersect there. The rays are shown in blue, and the points in yellow (real) or orange (virtual).
Simulate Colors
Simulate colors (wavelengths) of light sources, mixture of colors, color filtering of blockers and mirrors, and chromatic dispersion of glasses.
