Describe, with the aid of a diagram, how a wave can be plane polarized.
Question 1 Report
Describe, with the aid of a diagram, how a wave can be plane polarized.
Answer Details
Plane polarization is possible only for a transverse wave. In an unpolarized light wave, the vibrations occur in many different directions, all perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels. A plane-polarized wave has vibrations restricted to one direction only; equivalently, the vibrations lie in one plane containing the direction of travel.
Passing unpolarized light through a polaroid produces plane-polarized light. The polaroid has a transmission axis and transmits only the component of vibration parallel to that axis. Vibrations in other directions are absorbed or blocked, so the emerging wave vibrates in one plane.
Examination point: Do not say that the light travels in only one direction after polarization: it was already travelling in one direction. Polarization restricts the direction of vibration, not the direction of travel.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
