Physics Project Report on Polarisation of Light

Introduction towards Project Report

Polarisation - Light is a transverse wave consisting of
vibrations normal to the direction of propagation. The lack
of symmetry of vibration around the direction of wave
propagation is called polarisation.
Polarisation is the only phenomenon which proves that
light is a transverse wave. On the other hand the sound
waves are longitudinal waves and do not show
polarisation.
Unpolarised light - If the vibrations of electric vector can
take place in all possible directions, perpendicular to
direction of propagation then the light is said to be
unpolarised light.
e.g.

light

unpolarised.

from

ordinary

source

of

light

is

The angle between the plane of polarisation and plane of

the device which produces polarised light is called
polariser and the one which detects polarised light is
called analyser.

Project Report on Polarisation of Light

Polarisation of Light :
Light is a form of energy which enables us to see the
objects from which it comes.
Light waves are electromagnetic in nature can travel with
a velocity of 3 x 108 m/sec. in free space.
Light waves show a number of properties such as
interference, diffraction, polarsation, doppler effect,
reflection, refraction and dispersion etc.
Polarisation of light is one of the unique and most
significant properties shown by light waves.
In this project report, we shall study in details about the
polarisation of light.

Theory of Polarised Light

Plane Polarised Light - A plane polarised light is that in

which vibrations are confined only to one direction.

If the vibrations are parallel to the plane of paper, they are

represented by arrows. If they are along a straight line
perpendicular to the plane of the paper then they are
represented by dots.

Vibrations parallel to the plane of paper.

Vibrations perpendicular to the plane of paper.
The plane in which vibrations of polarised light are taking
place is called plane of vibration.
The plane containing the direction of propagation of light
and perpendicular to the plane of vibration is called the
plane of polarisation.

Light Waves are Transverse in Nature

The polarisation of light is shown by a tourmaline crystal

(aluminium boron silicate). It absorbs all the vibrations of
the incident unpolarised light except the one parallel to its
axis. It, therefore, polarises light.

When ordinary light is incident normally on a pair of

parallel tourmaline crystal plates P1 and P2 cut parallel to
their crystallographic axis the emergent light shows a
variation in intensity as P2 is rotated. The intensity is
maximum when the axis of P2 is parallel to that of P1 and
minimum when at right angles.
This observation clearly verifies that vibrations in light
waves are transverse. If light waves were longitudinal,
then intensity of light emerging from P2 would have always
been the same i.e. there would have been no effect on the
intensity of light wave due to the rotation of crystal
P2 relative to P1.

To Detect Plane Polarised Light

When unpolarised light is seen through a single crystal

(polaroid) intensity of transmitted light decreases, on
account of polarisation, on rotating crystal, intensity of
polarised light doesn't change.
Actually a combination of polariser and analyser helps in
detection of plane polarised light.

Methods of Production of Plane Polarised Light

(a) By reflection of light (Polarisation by reflection)Brewster found that the light is totally polarised when
reflected at a transparent medium (as glass), if incident at
a particular angle ip given by Brewsters law.

(b) Polarization by Scattering - When a beam of white

light is pass through a medium containing particles whose
size is of the order of wavelength of light. Then the beam
gets scattered. When the scattered light is seen in a
direction perpendicular to the direction of incidence, it is
found to be plane polarised (as detected by analyser). This
is called polarization by scattering.
(c) By Dichroism - Some doubly- refracting crystals have
the property of absorbing strongly one of the two refracted
rays, while allowing the other to emerge with little loss.
This selective absorption by the crystals is known as
dichroism. The best example of such a crystal is
tourmaline.

Information about Polaroids

Polaroids - Polaroid is based on the phenomenon of
dichroism. It is a big polarising film mounted between two
glass plates and is used to obtain plane polarised light. To
prepare this film, ultra-microscopic crystals of herpathite
(lodosulphate of Quinine) are spread by a special device
in a thin sheet of nitro-cellulose in such a way that the
optic axes of all the crystals are parallel. Hence, when a
beam of unpolarised light passes through the polaroid film,
the emerging light is plane-polarised.
Uses of Polaroids a) Polaroids are used in the laboratory to produce and
analyse plane Polarised light.

b) They are used in sun glasses to cut off the light

reflected from horizontal surfaces such as wet roads,
polished tables etc.
c) Polaroids are used in motor cars to avoid the dazzling
light of a car approaching from opposite directions.
d) Polaroid glasses are used for viewing three dimensional
pictures.
e) Polaroids are used in photographic camera as filters.
These filters eliminate the glare of the reflected light.
Malus Law-When a completely plane Polarised light beam
is incident on an analyser, the intensity of the emergent
light varies as the square of the cosine of the angle
between axes of polariser and analyser. It is known as
Malus Law.
i. e I Cos2
or,I=I0Cos2
If=0i.e.thepolariserandanalyserareparallel
thenI=I0(Maximum)
andif=900i.e.thepolariserandanalyserareperpendicular.
thenI=0(Minimum)

Optical Activity

There are certain substances which have property to

rotate the plane polarised light's plane of vibration when
passed through them, this is called optical activity.
Such substances are called optically active substances.
Two Categories of Substances
(i) Dextrorotatory (Right Handed)
Substances that rotate light in clock wise direction are
called dextrorotatory.
(ii) Laevorotatory (Left Handed)
Substances that rotate light in anti-clock wise direction are
called laevorotatory.

Dependence of Angle of Rotation :

(i) Thickness of crystal.
(ii) Density of crystal.
(iii) Wavelength of light used.
(iv) Temperature of the solution.