<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
The figure shows a horizontal, unpolarized ray of light incident on a block labeled birefringent crystal. The ray is perpendicular to the face of the crystal where it enters it. The incident ray splits into two rays when it enters the crystal. One part of the ray continues straight on. This ray is horizontally polarized. The other part of the ray propagates at an. This ray is vertically polarized. The second ray refracts upon leaving the crystal such that the two rays are parallel outside the crystal. The rays are labeled as two perpendicularly polarized beams.
Birefringent materials, such as the common mineral calcite, split unpolarized beams of light into two with two different values of index of refraction.

Summary

  • Polarization is the attribute that wave oscillations have a definite direction relative to the direction of propagation of the wave. The direction of polarization is defined to be the direction parallel to the electric field of the EM wave.
  • Unpolarized light is composed of many rays having random polarization directions.
  • Unpolarized light can be polarized by passing it through a polarizing filter or other polarizing material. The process of polarizing light decreases its intensity by a factor of 2.
  • The intensity, I , of polarized light after passing through a polarizing filter is I = I 0 cos 2 θ , where I 0 is the incident intensity and θ is the angle between the direction of polarization and the axis of the filter.
  • Polarization is also produced by reflection.
  • Brewster’s law states that reflected light is completely polarized at the angle of reflection θ b , known as Brewster’s angle.
  • Polarization can also be produced by scattering.
  • Several types of optically active substances rotate the direction of polarization of light passing through them.

Key equations

Speed of light c = 2.99792458 × 10 8 m/s 3.00 × 10 8 m/s
Index of refraction n = c v
Law of reflection θ r = θ i
Law of refraction (Snell’s law) n 1 sin θ 1 = n 2 sin θ 2
Critical angle θ c = sin −1 ( n 2 n 1 ) for n 1 > n 2
Malus’s law I = I 0 cos 2 θ
Brewster’s law tan θ b = n 2 n 1

Conceptual questions

Can a sound wave in air be polarized? Explain.

No. Sound waves are not transverse waves.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

No light passes through two perfect polarizing filters with perpendicular axes. However, if a third polarizing filter is placed between the original two, some light can pass. Why is this? Under what circumstances does most of the light pass?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Explain what happens to the energy carried by light that it is dimmed by passing it through two crossed polarizing filters.

Energy is absorbed into the filters.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

When particles scattering light are much smaller than its wavelength, the amount of scattering is proportional to 1 λ . Does this mean there is more scattering for small λ than large λ ? How does this relate to the fact that the sky is blue?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Using the information given in the preceding question, explain why sunsets are red.

Sunsets are viewed with light traveling straight from the Sun toward us. When blue light is scattered out of this path, the remaining red light dominates the overall appearance of the setting Sun.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

When light is reflected at Brewster’s angle from a smooth surface, it is 100 % polarized parallel to the surface. Part of the light will be refracted into the surface. Describe how you would do an experiment to determine the polarization of the refracted light. What direction would you expect the polarization to have and would you expect it to be 100 % ?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

If you lie on a beach looking at the water with your head tipped slightly sideways, your polarized sunglasses do not work very well. Why not?

The axis of polarization for the sunglasses has been rotated 90 ° .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Problems

What angle is needed between the direction of polarized light and the axis of a polarizing filter to cut its intensity in half?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

why we learn economics ? Explain briefly
ayalew Reply
why we learn economics ?
ayalew
why we learn economics
ayalew
profit maximize for monopolistically?
Usman Reply
what kind of demand curve under monopoly?
Mik Reply
what is the difference between inflation and scarcity ?
Abdu Reply
What stops oligopolists from acting together as a monopolist and earning the highest possible level of profits?
Mik
why economics is difficult for 2nd school students.
Siraj Reply
what does mean opportunity cost?
Aster Reply
what is poetive effect of population growth
Solomon Reply
what is inflation
Nasir Reply
what is demand
Eleni
what is economics
IMLAN Reply
economics theory describes individual behavior as the result of a process of optimization under constraints the objective to be reached being determined by
Kalkidan
Economics is a branch of social science that deal with How to wise use of resource ,s
Kassie
need
WARKISA
Economic Needs: In economics, needs are goods or services that are necessary for maintaining a certain standard of living. This includes things like healthcare, education, and transportation.
Kalkidan
What is demand and supply
EMPEROR Reply
deman means?
Alex
what is supply?
Alex
ex play supply?
Alex
Money market is a branch or segment of financial market where short-term debt instruments are traded upon. The instruments in this market includes Treasury bills, Bonds, Commercial Papers, Call money among other.
murana Reply
good
Kayode
what is money market
umar Reply
Examine the distinction between theory of comparative cost Advantage and theory of factor proportion
Fatima Reply
What is inflation
Bright Reply
a general and ongoing rise in the level of prices in an economy
AI-Robot
What are the factors that affect demand for a commodity
Florence Reply
price
Kenu
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, University physics volume 3. OpenStax CNX. Nov 04, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12067/1.4
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'University physics volume 3' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask