Polarized light

Un-polarized Light Waves of normal or un-polarized light can have any orientation. The orientation of a given photon/wave is random Almost all light begins un-polarized

Polarized Light With polarized light the orientations of all photons/waves are the same.

Four ways to Polarize Light #1 Pass the light through a polarizer that is a filter, that lets through only light that is polarized in direction of its polarizing axis

What happens with two polarizing filters in a row What happens with two polarizing filters in a row? Depends on the orientation of their polarizing axes Axes parallel… no more light is blocked Axes perpendicular… all light is blocked

#2 Reflected is polarized and Refracted Light are partially polarized

#3 Scattered light is at least partially polarized

#4 Birefringence Some Crystal separate light of different polarizations Creating double images

Practical Uses of Polarizers As reflected and scattered light Both of which cause glare Are polarized Properly oriented polarizers can block the glare