SAT Physics Physical Optics - Polarization Of Light

SAT Physics Physical Optics - Polarization Of Light

POLARIZATION OF LIGHT
Light waves are electromagnetic waves consisting of both an oscillating electric field and an oscillating magnetic field. These two oscillations sustain each other and allow light to propagate independently, even through a vacuum. The electric field and magnetic field waves are both transverse waves where the oscillating fields are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. In addition, the electric field oscillation is perpendicular to the magnetic field oscillation. Working with both of these perpendicular oscillations is complex. As a result, light waves are often simplified as a single transverse wave involving only the electric field oscillation.
    Because the oscillating electric field occurs in a set plane, light waves are polarized. The poles of the oscillation are the crests and troughs of the electric field wave, which maintain their orientation as light waves propagate. The plane in which the electric field oscillates is known as the plane of polarization. In Figure 17.7, the electric field is oscillating in die x-y plane and this electromagnetic wave is polarized along the y-axis.
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Figure 17.7. Electromagnetic wave

   Light waves can be polarized in any direction. Light arriving from the Sun consists of countless waves, each polarized in random directions. When treated together, all of these random polarizations cancel each other. So the light from the Sun, as well as light from other conventional light sources, is unpolarized. The diagrams in Figure 17.8 are simplified by showing the polarization of light for two light waves coming directly out of the page. Figure 17.8(a) is polarized in the y-direction only. Figure 17.8(b) consists of waves polarized in a variety of directions and is an example of unpolarized light.
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Figure 17.8. Polarized (a) and unpolarized (b) light

   If unpolarized light passes through a polarizing filter, it will become polarized. A polarizing filter contains a transparent sheet imbedded with long, organic molecules oriented in only one direction. It is similar to the bars of a jail cell, where some things can pass through and others cannot. Only the light rays oscillating in one direction will pass through the polarizing filter. Light oscillating in all other directions is blocked.
    Unfortunately, polarization is often shown incorrectly in diagrams in order to simplify the concept for beginning students. Figure 17.9 is the simplified, incorrect example. It shows unpolarized light passing through a polarizing filter where the organic molecules are aligned in the y-direction.
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Figure 17.9. Simplified but incorrect example of polarization

   This transfer of energy absorbs the light polarized in the direction matching the alignment of the organic molecules. The light that actually transmits through the filter is the light perpendicular to the strands of organic molecules, as shown in Figure 17.10.
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Figure 17.10 Correct example of polarization light

   Exams are more likely to focus on the fact that a single polarizing filter allows light waves oscillating in only one direction to pass through. You should also note that this phenomenon experimentally demonstrates that light is a transverse wave. In addition, exams will often test the effect of two polarizing filters used together, as shown in Figure 17.11.
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Figure 17.11. Effect of two polarizing filters

When two polarizing filters have the same orientation, light is polarized in the same manner as if only one filter is present. When two polarizing filters are perpendicular, they block all waves in any orientation. No light passes through. If the filters start in the position shown in Figure 17.11(a) and one filter is turned about the axis of propagation, the light passing through will become dimmer and dimmer. When the filter has turned 90°, all light will be blocked. Polarizing filters are used in 3-D glasses to view movies. A 3-D movie is actually two polarized movies superimposed on the screen. One lens of the 3-D glass allows vertically polarized light to pass through, and the other lens allows horizontally polarized light to pass through. Each eye is watching a different movie. The brain interprets the resulting images as three dimensional.
    Light reflecting off of surfaces is partially polarized. The direction of this polarization matches the surface from which the light is reflected. When sunlight reflects off of the ocean, lakes, and the hoods of cars, it is slightly polarized in the horizontal direction. This type of polarization is commonly referred to as reflected glare. Polarized sunglasses are actually polarizing filters oriented to block this horizontally polarized reflected glare.

COLOR
Visible light consists of the colors extending from red to violet in the electromagnetic spectrum. In order to see specific colors, light waves must be aimed at and enter the eye in order to stimulate the photoreceptors in the retina. There are two ways to see light. Either a beam of light is shined directly into the eye from a light source, or light can reflect off of a surface and then enter the eye. If a light source is red, an observer will see red. However, the reflection of light is more complicated.

Absorption and Reflection
When light strikes a surface, some wavelengths will be absorbed and others will reflect. If light is absorbed, it cannot be seen. Only the reflected rays bouncing off of an object are capable of entering the human eye. When objects are observed with the eye, the reflected colors are seen. For example, think of green leaves. Leaves reflect the wavelengths of light that appear green. This means that other wavelengths of light are being absorbed. Leaves absorb the wavelengths consistent with red and blue light, which are the wavelengths needed for photosynthesis.

Dispersion
White light arriving from the Sun is composed of all the wavelengths of visible light. These wavelengths can be separated into distinct colors of light through a process known as dispersion. This process is commonly demonstrated using a prism. Dispersion takes advantage of both refraction and geometric optics. When white light strikes a prism at an angle, the light separates (disperses) into individual colors. Each wavelength (color) of light has a slightly different wavelength and index of refraction when it moves through the prism. As a result, each color bends at a slightly different angle as it enters and leaves the prism, as shown in Figure 17.12. The short wavelengths of light (violet and blue) have the highest index of refraction. So they bend the most. All the colors of the spectrum are separated. A rainbow effect is seen that extends from red to violet.
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Figure 17.12. Dispersion of light through a triangular prism

Scattering
When light rays in the atmosphere strike particles in the air, the light rays are reflected in various directions. This process is known as scattering. Shorter wavelengths of light are scattered the most. The blue light is reflected off the particles in the air and enters the eye, giving the sky its blue appearance.

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