WAVE OPTICS

POLARIZATION OF LIGHT

EXPERIMENT

DEFINITIONS

POLARIZED LIGHT

Light in which the electromagnetic

vibrations take place in one particular

plane.

In ordinary (unpolarized) light,

the electric fields vibrate in all planes

perpendicular to the direction of

propagation. After reflection from a

polished surface or transmission

through certain materials (such as

Polaroid), the electric fields are

confined to one direction, and the

light is said to be linearly polarized.

 

In circularly polarized and elliptically polarized light, theelectric fields are confined to onedirection, but the direction rotates asthe light propagates. 

USES OF POLARIZED LIGHT

Polarized light is used to test the strength of sugar solutions, to measure stresses in transparent materials, and to prevent glare.

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