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Physics Assign

The document explains the concepts of light polarization, including unpolarized and linearly polarized light, and how polarization confirms light as a transverse wave. It discusses three methods of polarization: selective absorption, reflection, and scattering, along with their principles and examples. Additionally, it describes how polarized sunglasses reduce glare and provides a calculation of transmitted intensity through polarizing filters using Malus's Law.

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vistoking93
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12 views3 pages

Physics Assign

The document explains the concepts of light polarization, including unpolarized and linearly polarized light, and how polarization confirms light as a transverse wave. It discusses three methods of polarization: selective absorption, reflection, and scattering, along with their principles and examples. Additionally, it describes how polarized sunglasses reduce glare and provides a calculation of transmitted intensity through polarizing filters using Malus's Law.

Uploaded by

vistoking93
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

QUESTION:1

a. Light is an electromagnetic wave. In unpolarized light, the electric field vectors vibrate in
all directions perpendicular to the direction of travel. In linearly polarized light, the electric
field vibrates in only one direction perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

b. Polarization shows that the oscillations of light waves occur perpendicular to the
direction of travel, a property only transverse waves have. Hence, the ability to polarize light
confirms that light is a transverse wave.
QUESTION:2

1. Selective Absorption:

Principle: Some materials (like Polaroid filters) only transmit light vibrating in a specific
direction and absorb the rest.

Example: Polaroid sunglasses reduce glare.

Law: Malus's Law

𝐼=𝐼0cos2(𝜃)

2. Reflection

Principle: When light reflects off a surface at a specific angle (Brewster’s angle), the
reflected light becomes polarized parallel to the surface.

Example: Glare on water or roads.

Law: Brewster's Law


n2
tan(𝜃𝐵)= n1

3. Scattering

Principle: Light scattered by small particles becomes partially polarized, especially at 90°
from the incident direction.
Example: Polarization of the blue sky.

Equation: No fixed formula, but dependent on scattering angle.

QUESTION;3

a. Glare is mostly horizontally polarized light reflected from surfaces like water. Polarized
sunglasses have vertically aligned polarizers that block this horizontally polarized light,
reducing glare and improving visibility

b. A light of intensity passes through two polarizing filters. The first is vertical, and the
second is rotated 60° to the first. Calculate the transmitted intensity using Malus’s Law.

Solution

𝐼=𝐼0cos2(𝜃)

𝐼=𝐼0cos2(60)

𝐼=𝐼0( 12 )2

𝐼=I04

Transmitted intensity=0.25𝐼0

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