Polarization of Light Questions and Answers for Viva

Answer-1: When two pieces of Polaroid are placed in succession along the path of a light wave, the intensity of light received behind the two Polaroids is described by Malus’ Law. The law expresses light intensity, I, as a function of the angle which is the angle θ between the directions of polarization of the two filters. The law can be expressed as follows:

I = Imaxcos2 θ

where, Imax is the light intensity between the two sheets of Polaroid.

Answer-2: Plane polarization is a type of polarization which allows waves to oscillate in only one plane.

Answer-3: The light which has acquired the property of one sidedness is called a polarized light.

Answer-4: Circular polarization of an electromagnetic wave is a polarization in which the electric field of the passing wave does not change strength but only changes direction in a rotary manner.

Answer-5: Transverse can be polarized as polarization is a property of th transverse waves.

Answer-6: A dichroic material is a crystalline substance in which two preferred states of light polarization are propagated with different velocities, and more importantly, with different absorption.

Answer-7: Dichroism has two related but distinct meanings in optics. A dichroic material is either one which causes visible light to be split up into distinct beams of different wavelengths (colours) (not to be confused with dispersion), or one in which light rays having different polarizations are absorbed by different amounts.

Answer-8: Visible light can be polarized on reflection.

Answer-9: The unpolarized light is symmetrical about the direction of propagation while in case of plane polarized light, there is lack of symmetry about the direction of propagation.

Answer-10: Polaroid is a device to produce plane polarized light. It consists of ultra - microscopic crystals of quinine iodo sulphate which are embedded in nitro - cellulose films in such a way that their optic axes are parallel to each other.

Answer-11: Malus law is completely applicable for completely plane polarized light.

Answer-12: The plane containing the direction of vibration as well as the direction of the propagation of light is called plane of vibration. On the other hand, the plane passing through the direction of propagation and containing no vibration is called plane of polarization.

Answer-13: Photo Detector is an optical detector that converts light signals into electrical signals, which can then be amplified and processed. The photo detector is as essential an element of any fiber optic system as the optical fiber or the light source.

Answer-14: Polarizer is an optical filter that passes light of a specific polarization and blocks waves of other polarizations. It can convert a beam of light of undefined or mixed polarization into a beam with well-defined polarization.

Answer-15: The plane of polarization of linearly polarized light or other electromagnetic radiation is the plane containing the electric vectors of the vibrations.

Answer-16: The plane containing the direction of vibration as well as the direction of the propagation of light is called plane of vibration. On the other hand, the plane passing through the direction of propagation and containing no vibration is called plane of polarization.

Answer-17: The ordinary light is symmetrical about the direction of propagation while in case of polarized light, there is lack of symmetry about the direction of propagation.