Polarized light

Polarization of light

​Light is a transverse wave

• Electromagnetic transverse waves behave differently than other transverse waves.

• Light waves vibrate in multiple planes at the same time.

• Light coming from the sun, lamps, candles, ect, are vibrating in multiple planes and are referred to as unpolarized light.

• It is possible to transform unpolarized light into polarized light.

• The most common way to polarize light is by using a filter.

Multiple Choice

Transverse electromagnetic light waves move

• in one plane

• in muliple planes

• up and down

• back and forth

Multiple Choice

The most common way to polarize light is by using a

• special piece of equipment

• lens

• mirror

• filter

Light can be completed blocked by using two filters

One filter will filter the horizontal rays, the other the vertical.

Multiple Choice

If you put on your sunglasses and suddenly the screen you were looking at goes black, what could be the problem.

• The sunglasses are too dark

• The polarization of your glasses and the screen are in different directions

• The screen is malfunctioning

• The computer is not connected to the internet

​Uses of polarization

• Glare reducing sunglasses

• Stress tests on clear plastics

• 3D movies

​What is happening here?

When light passes through plastic (such as cellophane tape) each color of light is polarized with its own orientation.

As the picture is turned the different wavelengths can pass through the filter.