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To Observe Polarisation of Light Using Two Polaroids

The document describes an experiment to observe polarization of light using two polarizing filters (polaroids). Unpolarized light is passed through a glass sheet at the polarizing angle, which polarizes the reflected light. This polarized light is then passed through a second polaroid. Rotating the second polaroid causes the intensity of the transmitted light to vary from bright to dark, with no transmission when the polaroids are perpendicular, demonstrating the polarized nature of the reflected light.

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Abu Bakar
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491 views2 pages

To Observe Polarisation of Light Using Two Polaroids

The document describes an experiment to observe polarization of light using two polarizing filters (polaroids). Unpolarized light is passed through a glass sheet at the polarizing angle, which polarizes the reflected light. This polarized light is then passed through a second polaroid. Rotating the second polaroid causes the intensity of the transmitted light to vary from bright to dark, with no transmission when the polaroids are perpendicular, demonstrating the polarized nature of the reflected light.

Uploaded by

Abu Bakar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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To observe polarisation of light using two

polaroids
Aim
To observe polarisation of light using two polaroids.

Apparatus
Thin glass sheet, a source giving monochromatic light beam with parallel rays, a
polaroid.

Theory
When an unpolarised light is made incident on the interface of two transparent media at
polarising angle, the refracted and reflected rays depart from each other at an angle of
90°. The reflected ray is completely plane polarised. It can be tested by a polaroid.

Procedure
Keep the than glass sheet in a horizontal plane surface with a hole under the sheet.
Take a beam of monochromatic light having parallel rays and make it incident on the
upper face of the glass sheet.
Adjust the angle of incidence to 57.5°.
Observe the reflected rays and the refracted rays. They must make an angle of 90° with
each other.
Testing of Polarisation.

Diagram
Take a polaroid (P) and keep it in between incident light and your eyes. Rotate it about
an axis along incident ray. No change of intensity of light will be detected. It is so
because the incident light is unpolarised.

1. Take the second polaroid (A) and place it at a proper distance between polaroid
(P) and eye and parallel to it. Light is visible through them.
2. Now rotate the polaroid (A) ranging from 0° to 360°. Keeping the polaroid (P) fix
and note the intensity of transmitted light.
3. When polaroid (A) and polaroid (P) at 90° than transmitted light through polaroid
(A) will be zero.

Result
When the two polaroids are parallel to each other light transmitted through it. But when
they are perpendicular, there is no transmitted light. The light obtained through polaroid
(P) is plane polarised. The light has transverse nature.

Precautions

1. Two polaroids and source of light should be in a straight line.


2. Rotate only second polarised from 0° to 360°. It is so, because the reflected light
is completely plane polarised.
Figure shows the arrangement for testing the polarisation of light by tourmaline
crystals which act as polaroids.

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