Polarization
Chapter Name : Wave Optics |
Sub Topic Code : 101_12_10_07_03 |
Topic Name : Polarization |
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Sub Topic Name : Polarization By Reflection |
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Introduction
Optics is the branch
of physics which involves the behaviour and properties of light, including its
interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect
it.
Pre-Requisites:
Polarization
Activity:
A polarized camera.
Real Life Question:
What is Polarization?
Key Words / FlashCards
| Key Words | Definitions (pref. in our own words) |
|---|---|
| Polarization | a property of waves that can oscillate with more than one orientation. Electromagnetic waves, such as light, and gravitational waves exhibit polarization; sound waves in a gas or liquid do not have polarization because the medium vibrates only along the direction in which the waves are travelling. |
Learning aids / Gadgets
| Gadgets | How it can be used |
|---|---|
| Polarization Maintaining (PM) Fiber | A specialty fiber called the Polarization Maintaining (PM) Fiber intentionally creates consistent birefringence pattern along its length, prohibiting coupling between the two orthogonal polarization directions. |
Real life uses :
Navigation.
Places to visit :
Photo studio.
Practical examples around us
| Examples | Explainations |
|---|---|
| Polarimeter | The polarization of light can be measured with a polarimeter. |
What you learn in Theory:
From Fresnel's equations it can be determined that the parallel reflection coefficient is zero when the incident and transmitted angles sum to 90°. The use of Snell's law gives an expression for the Brewster angle.
What you learn in Practice:
The extent to which polarization occurs is dependent upon the angle at which the light approaches the surface and upon the material that the surface is made of.