GK SCIENTIST

General Knowledge One Stop Source
Menu
  • Home
  • Social Science
    • History
    • Political Science
    • Geography
  • Science
    • Physics
    • Chemistry
    • Biology
  • Chemistry Notes
  • Mathematics
  • Computer
  • Tutorial MySQL
  • Tutorial Python
  • Java Tutorial
  • English Grammar
  • English Essay
  • Indian Anthropology
  • Philosophy
  • Solved Paper
  • UPSC
  • Current Content
    • Current Affairs
    • RSTV News
    • Yojana and Kurukshetra Gist
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

If you are interested in advertising to our audience, submit the advertising enquiry form.

Advertising Enquiry
Physics

Polarization of Light

Gk Scientist September 22, 2022 No Comments
Tweet WhatsApp Telegram

Polarization of Light:

During propagation of light, the particles of the medium do not vibrate i.e., light waves are not mechanical waves. It has been proved both theoretically and experimentally that light waves are electromagnetic waves.

In electromagnetic waves, electric and magnetic fields, which are at right angles to each other, vibrate perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave i.e., if an electromagnetic wave is traveling along X-axis, the electric field E vibrates along Y-axis, and the magnetic field B along Z-axis. In most of the discussions, the study of electric vector E is sufficient, because its specification automatically fixes the corresponding magnetic vector B. Thus, in a light wave, the vibrating quantity that concerns most is its electric vector E.

Such a wave is also called a plane polarized (or polarized) wave because the entire wave is contained in one plane as shown in figure (a). A linearly polarized wave is usually represented by a double arrow indicating the two equal and oppositely directed maximum values of E as shown in figure (b).

Polarized Wave - Polarization of Light

The electromagnetic wave emitted by the antenna is linearly polarized. The light pulses emitted by individual atoms are also linearly polarized but the waves given out by an ordinary source of light are not polarized. This is because an ordinary source of light contains an enormous number of atoms and molecules oriented in a random manner. Consequently, the light given out by such a source in a given direction consists of independent wave trains whose electric vectors E, though perpendicular to the direction of propagation of light, are randomly oriented i.e. if the wave trains are propagating along X-axis, the vibrating electric vectors E are randomly oriented in the Y-Z plane as shown below.

unpolarized wave traveling along x axis - Polarization of Light
Vibrations can be resolved along y and z axis - Polarization of Light
Representation of Unpolarized Wave - Polarization of Light

Light emitted by an ordinary source consists of a broken chain of wave trains whose vibrating electric vectors, though right angles to the direction of propagation, are not necessarily parallel to each other, but are randomly oriented in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of light- such a light is called unpolarized light.

Any vibration in an unpolarized light can be decomposed into two mutually perpendicular components. For example, the vibrations shown in figure (d) can be resolved into two components, one along Y-direction and the other long Z-direction. An unpolarized beam of light is, therefore, represented as shown in figure (e) in which vertical double arrows show vibrations in the plane of the paper and dots represent vibration perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

The random orientation of vibration produces symmetry in the direction of propagation, hence truly transverse nature of light remains concealed unless the experimental results are carefully analyzed.

Experimental Demonstration:

The polarization of light can be demonstrated experimentally by simple arrangement as shown.

Experimental Demonstration of Polarization of Light - Polarization of Light

Allow the unpolarized light to fall on tourmaline crystal T1. Now the light coming out of T1 is linearly polarized. To check, whether the light coming out of T1, has been polarized or not, we allow the light to pass through another tourmaline crystal T2.

When the axis of T1 and T2 is parallel to each other, then we observe that light passes through both T1 and T2.

And when the axis of T1 and T2 are perpendicular to each other, then we observe that T2 does not allow any light to pass through it as shown. The crystal T1, which polarizes the light is called a polarizer, and the tourmaline crystal T2, which analyses whether the given light is polarized or not is called Analyzer.


AC Generator or Dynamo
DC Generator or DC Dynamo
Dispersion of Light
Maximum Power Theorem
Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell
The Gaseous State and Liquid State– NIOS
Prev Article
Next Article

Related Articles

Buoyancy And Archimedes Principle
Buoyancy And Archimedes Principle: Buoyancy: You must have noticed that …
Gk Scientist December 23, 2020 Physics

Buoyancy And Archimedes Principle

Fleming’s Left and Right Hand Rule
Fleming’s Left and Right Hand Rule: Fleming’s Left Hand Rule: …
Gk Scientist May 28, 2022 Physics

Fleming’s Left and Right Hand Rule

Potential Energy of Magnetic Dipole in Magnetic Field
Potential Energy of Magnetic Dipole in Magnetic Field: Potential Energy …
Gk Scientist June 1, 2022 Physics

Potential Energy of Magnetic Dipole in Magnetic Field

Mercury Vapour Lamp
Mercury Vapour Lamp: Construction- The lamp consists of two bulbs, …
Gk Scientist June 21, 2022 Physics

Mercury Vapour Lamp

Applications of Electrolysis
Applications of Electrolysis: The process of decomposition of electrolyte solution …
Gk Scientist April 14, 2021 Physics

Applications of Electrolysis

Fluorescent Lamp
Fluorescent Lamp: The above figure shows the constructional details of …
Gk Scientist June 22, 2022 Physics

Fluorescent Lamp

Short Note on Particle Accelerator
Particle Accelerator: The purpose of a particle accelerator is to …
Gk Scientist July 22, 2022 Physics

Short Note on Particle Accelerator

Applications of Michelson Interferometer
Applications of Michelson Interferometer: Determination of Wavelength of Monochromatic Light: …
Gk Scientist July 29, 2022 Physics

Applications of Michelson Interferometer

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Search

  • Popular
  • Recent




GK SCIENTIST

General Knowledge One Stop Source

Information

  • About Us
  • Terms and Condition, Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Android Apps

  • IAS App For English Medium Students
  • IAS Basics App For English Medium Students
  • IAS Hindi App For Hindi Medium Students
DMCA.com Protection Status

Popular Tags

Biology (33) Biology Questions (88) Chemistry (57) Computer (215) Current Affairs (4) Current Content (0) Economy (12) English Essay (172) English Grammar (75) English Literature (10) Geography (83) History (259) Indian Anthropology (11) Indian Polity (14) JKAS Mains Question Papers (17) Mathematics (68) Moral Science (7) NCERT & Other Boards Books (25) Philosophy (114) Physics (89) Political Science (132) RS TV News (33) Science (553) Social Anthropology (7) Social Science (17) Solved Paper (47) UPSC (7) UPSC Mains Question Papers (26)

Downloads

  • NCERT Books
  • Old NCERT Books
  • NIOS Books For IAS, SSC, and State PSC Exam
  • Tamil Nadu Board Books: Important For UPSC, SSC, and State PSC Exam
  • Modern Indian and World History Notes For IAS Exam
  • UPSC Topper 2013 Gaurav Agrawal Notes For IAS Preparation
  • UPSC IAS Prelims General Studies – Previous Year Papers
  • UPSC Mains Question Papers

Copyright © 2023 GK SCIENTIST
Theme by MyThemeShop.com& Hosted On Cloudways

Ad Blocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Refresh
 

Loading Comments...