Polarization oflightnotes PDF

Huygens' wave model of light is unable to explain polarisation as this model describes light as longitudinal waves. Longitudinal waves cannot be polarised.

However, the electric fields do not need to be perfectly parallel to pass through, as any component of the electric field that is parallel to the transmission axis will pass. The components that are not parallel to the filter are absorbed. Consequently, the intensity of an electromagnetic wave passing through a polariser is reduced.

Polarized light physicsequation

Where `I_0` and `I` are the intensity of light before and after passing through a polariser respectively. θ is the angle between the transmission axis of the polariser and the light’s polarisation axis before passing through the polariser.

What is polarization of waves inPhysics

The chemical composition of polaroid filters produces a specific transmission axis for light waves. The intensity of light that is allowed to pass through the filter depends on the angle between the filter and wave’s polarisation axis.

Polarising filters have a unique molecular structure that allows only light having a single orientation to pass through.

However, if the second polariser is rotated at a small angle, the amount of light passing through will be decreased. When the second polariser is rotated so the orientation is perpendicular to that of the first polariser, then none of the light passing through the first polariser will pass through the second.

The effects observed with polarised light were critical to the development of the concept that light consists of transverse waves having components that are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Each of the transverse components must have a specific orientation direction that enables it to either pass through or to be blocked by a polariser. Only those waves with a transverse component parallel to the polarising filter will pass through, and all others will be blocked.

In the diagram below, the first polaroid filter has a vertical transmission axis which only permits light with a polarisation axis of the same orientation to pass through.

Polarizedand unpolarizedlight

Polarized light physicsnotes

This effect is easily explained with the electromagnetic wave theory, but no manipulation of the particle theory can explain how light is blocked by the second polariser. Thus, Newton's corpuscular model of light is not adequate in explaining polarisation.

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If a beam of light is allowed to impact a polariser, only light rays oriented parallel to the polarising direction are able to pass through the polariser. If a second polariser is positioned behind the first and oriented in the same direction, then light passing through the first polariser will also pass through the second.

conduct investigations quantitatively using the relationship of Malus’ Law `I=I_(max) cos^2 θ` for plane polarisation of light, to evaluate the significance of polarisation in developing a model for light (ACSPH050, ACSPH076, ACSPH120)

This can be better understood using the Picket Fence analogy. Light as an electromagnetic wave has oscillating electric and magnetic fields. Polaroid filters exploit the plane of these oscillation by only letting waves whose electric fields are parallel to the transmission axis of the material.

Polarized light physicsexamples

A polarising filter absorbs the component of the electric field of the electromagnetic wave that are not parallel to the polarisation direction of the filter.

Polarized light physicsformula

Suppose we have a second piece of polaroid whose transmission axis makes an angle θ with that of the first one. The E vector of the light between the polaroids can be resolved into two components, one parallel and one perpendicular to the transmission axis of the second Polaroid (see Figure 1). If we call the direction of transmission of the second polaroid y’,

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