Polarization Light travels as a transverse wave, with the electric and magnetic fields oscillating perpendicular to the forward motion of the wave Light from the sun, from a lamp, or from a candle is all unpolarized Unpolarized light oscillates in many planes Polarized light only oscillates in one plane

Polarization Polarization: changing unpolarized light into polarized light Using a polarizing filter (or Polaroid) absorbs some of the incoming light, reducing the amount or intensity of light passing through the filter Only light waves aligned with the filter can pass through