6H20.10 - Polarization - Brewster's Angle

Code Number:
6H20.10
Demo Title:
Polarization - Brewster's Angle
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Polarization by Reflection
Area of Study:
Optics, E & M

Disclaimer

Equipment:
6 Volt Projector and Transformer, Smoked Glass Plate, Front Surface Mirror, Polaroid's, Protractor, and Black Cloth.
Procedure:

Place the lamp so that is strikes the smoked glass at an angle of approximately 56 degrees from the normal. The reflected part of the ray will now be polarized, which can be shown by shutting the ray on and off with one of the polarizing plates. Place the mirror on top of the smoked glass plate. Since the reflected ray now contains both directions of polarization you will be unable to shut the beam off with a Polarizer.

NOTE: An unpolarized laser will also work in place of the projector lamp.

You can show polarization by reflection using a laser and a plate of glass. Place the glass in the beam of the laser at the Brewster's angle. Place a polarizer in the beam of the reflected light and by rotating the polarizer you will be able to turn the reflected beam on or off.

References:
  • Genhai George Liang, "Polarization and Airplane Debris", TPT, Vol. 52, #5, May 2014, p. 260.
  • Peter H. Froehle, "The Critical Angle Can Override the Brewster Angle", TPT, Vol. 47, #1, Jan. 2009, p. 34.
  • P. J. Ouseph, "Polarization of Reflected Light", TPT, Vol. 40, #7, Oct. 2002, p. 438.
  • Raymond E. Benenson, "Light Polarization Experiments with a Diode Laser Pointer", TPT, Vol. 38, #1, Jan. 2000, p. 44.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "A Brewster's Angle Mistake", TPT, Vol. 32, #2, Feb. 1994, p. 118.
  • Paul Changnon, "Animated Displays IV: Linear Polarization", TPT, Vol. 31, #8, Nov. 1993, p. 489, Referenced in Resource Letter TLC-1 Teaching Light and Color, Demonstration Experiments Resource Articles.
  • G. R. Davies, "Polarized Light Corridor Demonstrations", TPT, Vol. 28, #7, Oct. 1990, p. 464.
  • Hastings A. Smith Jr., "Measuring Brewster's Angle Between Classes", TPT, Vol. 17, #2, Feb. 1979, p. 109.
  • William Dillon Walsh, "Measuring Brewster's Angle with Ordinary Laboratory Equipment", TPT, Vol. 16, #4, Apr. 1978, p. 229.
  • James B. Calvert, "Brewster's View on Wave Theory", AJP, Vol. 70, #4, Apr. 2002, p. 375.
  • P. J. Ouseph, Kevin Driver, and John Conklin, "Polarization of Light by Reflection and the Brewster Angle", AJP, Vol. 69, #11, Nov. 2001, p. 1166.
  • Feredoon Behroozi and Stephen Luzader, "On the Reflection of Polarized Light at Surfaces", AJP, Vol. 55, #3, Mar. 1987, p. 279.
  • T. G. Bullen, F.S.C.H., "Apparatus for Determining Brewster's Angle", AJP, Vol. 31, #4, April 1963, p. 302.
  • Andrew Graham, "Novel Uses for Equipment", PIRA Newsletter, Vol. 1, #3, Feb. 1986, p. 4.
  • "O-620. Glass Plate(s) and Floor Tile", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook, 1993.
  • G. D. Freier and F. J. Anderson, "Om-2", A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
  • Richard Manliffe Sutton, "L-126", Demonstration Experiments in Physics.
  • George M. Hopkins, "Polarized Light", Experimental Science, p. 240.
  • George M. Hopkins, "Polarized Light", Experimental Science, p. 237.
  • T. Kallard, "Polarization by Reflection and Refraction - Brewster's Law", Exploring Laser Light, p. 94.
  • Yaakov Kraftmakher, "4.4. Polarization of Light", Experiments and Demonstrations in Physics, ISBN 981-256-602-3, p. 243.
  • James Cunningham and Norman Herr, "7.4.2. Polarization by Reflection", Hands-On Physics Activities with Real Life Applications, p. 482.
  • "Etc",  The Magic Wand and Other Exp. in Light and Color,  Exploratorium,  p. 93.
  • "Polarized Sunglasses", Exploratorium Science Snackbook, p. 79.1 - 79.2.
  • Raymond Bruman, "Polarized Sunglasses", Exploratorium Cookbook I, p. 23.1 - 23.2.
  • Raymond Bruman, "String Analogy", Exploratorium Cookbook I, p. 22.1 - 22.2.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "O.2. Polarization of Reflected Light", Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations, p. 171 - 172.
  • C. Harvey Palmer, "Experiment A3: Refractive Index by Pfund's Method and by Brewster's Angle", Optics - Experiments and Demonstrations, John Hopkins Press, 1962.
  • "3. Polarization by Reflection", Experiments in Optics, Part 2, Klinger Scientific Apparatus Corp., Bulletin 101- 2.
  • T. D. Rossing and C. J. Chiaverina, "7.2. Polarization By Reflection", Light Science, Physics and Visual Arts, p. 155.
  • Brian Jones and Matt Fackelman, "Brewster Box", Don't Forget the Duct Tape, p. 13 - 16.
PDF icon University of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Question #233
PDF icon niversity of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Answer #233
PDF icon University of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Question #234
PDF icon niversity of Maryland Physics Department QOTW Answer #234





Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.