4.6 Polarization and Scattering of Light

4.6 Polarization and Scattering of Light

Polarization:

Polarization is the orientation of the oscillations of light waves in a particular direction. Unpolarized light has oscillations in multiple planes, while polarized light has oscillations in a single plane. Polarization can be achieved by passing light through a polarizing filter, reflecting it off a surface, or by scattering.

Scattering of Light:

Scattering occurs when light interacts with particles in the medium and is redirected in different directions. Rayleigh scattering, responsible for the blue color of the sky, occurs when the scattering particles are much smaller than the wavelength of light.

Example Problem:

Describe how polarized sunglasses reduce glare.

Solution:

Polarized sunglasses contain filters that block horizontally polarized light, which is the main component of glare reflected off surfaces like water or roads. By blocking this horizontally polarized light, the sunglasses reduce glare and improve visual clarity.