Polarisation
Polarisation: Overview
This topic covers concepts, such as, Experiment to Demonstrate Transverse Nature of Light,Polarisation of Light Waves,Role of Polariser etc.
Important Questions on Polarisation
Light, from a sodium lamp, is passed through two Polaroid sheets, and kept one after the other. Keeping fixed, is rotated so that its ‘pass – axis’ can be at different angles, with respect to the pass – axis of .
An experimentalist records the following data for the intensity of light coming out of as a function of the angle .
S. No. (Angle between the pass axis of the two polaroids) |
|||||
(Intensity of light coming out of ) | 0 |
= Intensity of beam falling on
One of these observations is not in agreement with the expected theoretical variation of I. Identify this observation.

Two polaroids are set in crossed positions. A third polariser is placed between the two making an angle with the pass axis of the first polaroid. In what orientations(of third polaroid with respect to first polaroid) will the transmitted intensity be (i) minimum and (ii) maximum?


A beam of unpolarized light of intensity is passed through a polaroid A and then through another polaroid B which is oriented so that its principal plane makes an angle of relative to that of A. The intensity of the emergent light is:

A light ray is incident on a glass slab. It is partially reflected and partially transmitted. Then the reflected ray is

In an experiment of polarization by polarizers, two polarizing sheets placed are together with their axis oriented such that no light is transmitted. A third sheet is inserted between them with its transmission axis at an angle of with respect to each of the other axes. The fraction of incident unpolarized light intensity transmitted by the three sheet combination is

Describe an experiment to demonstrate transverse wave nature of light ?

Which of the following correctly states the property of tourmaline crystal?



Distinguish between linearly polarised and unpolarised light.?




Linearly polarised light is obtained by _____ (Reflection/Refraction/Scattering/Dispersion) of light.


A _____ is a device that allows only one half of the vibrations of the transmitted light to pass through the filter only in one plane.



The phenomenon of rotation of plane polarised light is called _____ activity.
