why is light partially reflected by a glass (or water) polarized?? what causes the polarization in this case??

Question

anonymous · Answer

it is similar to what i always wanted to know...why does light slow down in another media..i guess the answes to both must be connected somehow..

ujjwal · Answer

but i don't think they are.. not sure yet. @quarkine

anonymous · Answer

Unpolarized light can be polarized by reflection off of non-metallic surfaces like glass and water. This polarization depends on the angle at which the light is reflected(angle of incidence) at the surface and upon the material that the surface is made of.

anonymous · Answer

u know my ans to mine question??

anonymous · Answer

@physicsme the question is why, rather than what..

ujjwal · Answer

i know it depends on angle.. but what causes it to polarize at that angle? @physicsme

experimentx · Answer

and also to add up, there's phase change of pi

anonymous · Answer

phase change is just due to reflection of a wave from a denser medium..it is common to all waves..even the waves on string

anonymous · Answer

hey, I found this.. http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=35808 this will answer your question @ujjwal

anonymous · Answer

hey anyone knows mine question's ans??

ujjwal · Answer

I don't know .. But i will definitely search its answer.

anonymous · Answer

k..let me know if u come across it...

ujjwal · Answer

the link you posted doesn't give a proper explanation of what i need.. what i found was:
 when light reflects off of a surface, those light waves that have their electric field oriented in the plane of reflection (in the plane defined by the incident and reflected rays) is more likely to be refracted (light with this orientation of electric field is often referred to as p-polarized light).  Light waves that have electric fields oriented perpendicular to the plane of reflection (s-polarized light) are more likely to be reflected. 

still the answer says what happens not why it happens? 
anyways thanx!! it was a bit helpful too.. @physicsme

anonymous · Answer

the reason it happens is because of the interaction of light with matter...it has to react someway when it is reflected off non-metals...so there is that one way...o_0

ujjwal · Answer

yeah! thanx!!