light intensity equation light intensity equation unpolarized

To examine this further, consider the transverse waves in the ropes shown in Figure 3. The electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. An EM wave, such as light, is a transverse wave. Thus we can think of the electric field arrows as showing the direction of polarization, as in Figure 2. For an EM wave, we define the direction of polarization to be the direction parallel to the electric field. (This is not the same type of polarization as that discussed for the separation of charges.) Waves having such a direction are said to be polarized. Polarization is the attribute that a wave’s oscillations have a definite direction relative to the direction of propagation of the wave. There are specific directions for the oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields.

As noted earlier, EM waves are transverse waves consisting of varying electric and magnetic fields that oscillate perpendicular to the direction of propagation (see Figure 2). Light is one type of electromagnetic (EM) wave. Polarizing sunglasses are particularly useful on snow and water. As a result, the reflection of clouds and sky observed in part (a) is not observed in part (b). Part (b) of this figure was taken with a polarizing filter and part (a) was not. These two photographs of a river show the effect of a polarizing filter in reducing glare in light reflected from the surface of water. What is polarization? How is it produced? What are some of its uses? The answers to these questions are related to the wave character of light. Polaroids have this ability because of a wave characteristic of light called polarization. They have a special ability to cut the glare of light reflected from water or glass as shown in the figure below.

Polaroid sunglasses are familiar to most of us.

Discuss the property of optical activity of certain materials.

Light intensity equation light intensity equation unpolarized