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Physics 18 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

difference between polarized and unpolarized light?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Polarized Light Polarization of a wave describes the direction of oscillation of a wave with respect to the direction of propagation; therefore, only transverse waves display polarization. There are three types of polarization, namely linear polarization, circular polarization, and elliptical polarization. Imagine a wave travelling through space. If the wave is a mechanical wave, particles get affected by the wave and oscillate. If the particles oscillate on a line perpendicular to the direction of propagation, the wave is said to be linearly polarized. If the particles trace out an ellipse on a plane perpendicular to the movement of propagation, the wave is an elliptically polarized wave. If the particle traces a circle on a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation, then the wave is said to be circular polarized. The process of polarizing is done using a polarizer. A polarizer is a device that only allows some fraction of the wave pass through it. Un-polarized Light Un-polarized light is the light we generally see daily. Any source of light generated as photons have random directions of oscillations with respect to the direction of propagation. Un-polarized light has intensity components at every direction, at all times. If un-polarized light is sent through a polarizer, polarized light can be obtained.

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