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Polarization
Polarization is a property of waves that can

oscillate with more than one orientation.
Electromagnetic waves such as light exhibit

polarization, as do some other types of wave,
such as gravitational waves.
Sound waves in a gas or liquid do not exhibit

polarization, since the oscillation is always in
the direction the wave travels.
Light as an Electromagnetic Wave
Electromagnetic Wave
Light is an electromagnetic wave.
It consists of vibrations of electric field
and magnetic field.
The electric field and magnetic field are
perpendicular to each other and in phase.
EM wave is a transverse wave.
The speed of EM wave is 3 x 108 ms-1.
Electric Field Vector
Polarized Light
Polarized Light: Vibrations lie on one single
plane only.
Unpolarized Light: Superposition of many
beams, in the same direction of propagation, but
each with random polarization.
E E
Polarized Unpolarized
Methods of Polarizing Light
It is possible to transform unpolarized light into polarized
light. Polarized light waves are light waves in which the
vibrations occur in a single plane. The process of
transforming unpolarized light into polarized light is
known as polarization. There are a variety of methods of
polarizing light. The four methods discussed on this page
are:
Polarization by Transmission
Polarization by Reflection
Polarization by Refraction
Polarization by Scattering
Polarization by Polarization by
Transmission Reflection
Polarization by Refraction
Polarization by Scattering
When light strikes the atoms of a material, it will often set the
electrons of those atoms into vibration. The vibrating electrons
then produce their own electromagnetic wave that is radiated
outward in all directions. These vibrating electrons produce
another electromagnetic wave. This scattered light is partially
polarized.
Polarizing Material
A Polarizing material will only allow the passage of that
component of the electric field parallel to the polarization
direction of the material
I = I0 cos2q
Polarization In Everyday Situations
This photograph should be compared with the one above.

In this photo, the reflected glare that was seen on the
water's surface (previous photo) has been removed by the
use of a Polaroid filter. It is much easier to see the sidewalk
below the water surface.
This photograph should be compared with the one above.
The reflected glare seen on the glass panels of the lab
cabinet has been removed by the use of a Polaroid filter. It
is much easier to see what is present inside of the lab
cabinets. This set of two photos provides another example
of how a Polaroid filter can block the annoying glare that
is caused when light becomes polarized upon reflection.
Action of Polaroid Sunglass
Light reflected from surfaces like a flat road or smooth
water is generally horizontally polarized. This horizontally
polarized light is blocked by the vertically oriented
polarizers in the lenses.
Vertically Polarized Light
from Objects
Unwanted glares are

usually horizontally
polarized light
Stress Analysis
Polarized light is often used in the stress analysis of molded plastics.
Polarized light passing through molded plastics will reveal stress
marks and stress patterns that would not otherwise be apparent to
the naked eye. The plane of polarization of polarized light is rotated
by these molded plastics at any location where the plastic is stressed.
The amount of rotation depends upon the wavelength of light. White
light consists of various wavelengths, each associated with a distinct
color. Using a Polaroid filter and rotating it will reveal stress patterns
in various colors at various angles of rotation.
Polarization in 3D Movies
Polarization is often implemented in the
production and viewing of 3D films. When
watching a 3D movie, there are actually
two images being projected onto the
screen at once. The two images were
filmed with two separate cameras from
two slightly offset locations. These two
images are projected onto the screen
through Polaroid filters. The molecules of
one of the filters is aligned vertically, the
other is aligned horizontally. The audience
is given 3D glasses that have one lens
aligned horizontally and the other aligned
vertically. Thus, one eye sees one image
and the other eye sees the other image.
The brain receives both signals and
perceives depth on a flat screen.
Seven-Segment LCD
Aerial
In a vertical transmitting Maximum electron oscillation

aerial, vertical electron in the receiving aerial is
oscillation results in a achieved when the aerial is
vertical polarized radio aligned to be parallel to the
wave.
wave’s electric field.
The sky is blue because . . .
• The tiny particles in the atmosphere (dust, clumps of air
molecules, microscopic water droplets) are better at
scattering shorter wavelength blue light than the longer
wavelength red light.
• As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, the
scattered blue light give the atmosphere an overall blue
glow.
The sunset is red because . . .
• At sunrise and sunset, sunlight enters our atmosphere at
a shallow angle and travels a long distance before
reaching our eyes.
• During this long passage, most of the blue light is
scattered away and virtually all that we see coming to us
from the sun is its red and orange wavelengths.
Reference Links
• http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/polarizat
ion.html
• http://dpfwiw.com/polarizer.htm#unwanted
• Blue Skies and Red Sunsets
http://science.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=qu
estion39.htm&url=http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/p
hys/Class/light/u12l2f.html
• Easy fun page with Applets, on polarizing filters
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/polarization/polari
zationI.html
• Polarization short course
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/light/u1
2l1e.html

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Polarization

Polarization is a property of waves that can

Electromagnetic waves such as light exhibit

Sound waves in a gas or liquid do not exhibit

This photograph should be compared with the one above.

Unwanted glares are

In a vertical transmitting Maximum electron oscillation

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