Polarization

|School | | |Class (No.) | ( ) |

|Name | | |Subject |AL Practical Physics |

|Date | | |Mark | |

B2 Polarization of light

Procedure

A. Polarization of light in Polaroid

1. View a lamp through a Polaroid. Describe how the intensity of the transmitted light changes compared with the light without the Polaroid.

The transmitted intensity becomes lower.

2. Rotate the Polaroid about an axis perpendicular to its plane. Describe how the intensity of the transmitted light changes.

The transmitted intensity remains unchanged.

4. Given that the intensity of the transmitted light is minimum when the polarizer and analyzer are crossed. At that moment, insert the third piece of Polaroid between them. Rotate the third Polaroid. Describe how the intensity of the transmitted light changes.

The transmitted intensity changes from minimum (zero) to maximum first, and then

returns to minimum (zero) as the third polaroid is rotated through 90o . The minimum

(zero) intensity happens when the third polaroid is parallel to either the polarizer or the

analyzer.

B. Polarized light by reflection

6. Can you conclude that the reflected light is unpolarized, completely polarized or partially polarized?

The reflected light is partially polarized.

C. Polarized light by scattering

8. Use a Polaroid to view the scattering light in positions A and B, and the transmitted light in position C. Describe the polarization of light in different positions with the aid of a diagram.

Scattering light in the directions A and B are partially polarized while that in the direction

is unpolarized.

D. Optical activity of sugar solution

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