Light: Polarization
In this segment, we dive into the concept of polarization. We investigate polarization qualitatively by observing how light behaves as it travels through different types of filters and through Malus' law, mathematically.
In this segment, we dive into the concept of polarization. We investigate polarization qualitatively by observing how light behaves as it travels through different types of filters and through Malus' law, mathematically.
Learning Objectives
-Define polarization as it pertains to light.
-Explain how filters work in blocking certain waves of light.
-Calculate the intensity of outgoing light using Malus’ Law.
-Define polarization as it pertains to light.
-Explain how filters work in blocking certain waves of light.
-Calculate the intensity of outgoing light using Malus’ Law.
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Vocabulary
Malus’ Law - this law states that the intensity of a beam of plane-polarized light after passing through a polarizer varies as the square of the cosine of the angle through which the polarizer is rotated from the position that gives maximum intensity. polarization - the act of restricting the vibrations of a transverse wave, especially light, wholly or partially to one direction. polarized light - light that is reflected or transmitted through certain media so that all vibrations are restricted to a single plane. unpolarized light - when light waves’ electric fields point in any direction perpendicular to the wave’s motion.
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