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M7-07. Crossed Polaroids - E Field Components

Purpose

To demonstrate that electric fields are vectors and to demonstrate the vector property of a component of a component

Equipment

Two circular polaroids, goose neck lamp, and third (square) polaroid sheet.

Suggestions

The real paradox involving this system involves an analysis of single photons. How can a single photon originally polarized parallel to the first polaroid have its angle of polarization rotated 90 degrees and exit the final polaroid polarized perpendicula

Images

m7-07

Description

Two crossed polaroids, oriented vertically and horizontally, are placed in front of a goose-neck lamp, thereby preventing light from passing to the viewers. When a third polaroid is inserted between the two crossed polaroids at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the original axes, light can be seen passing through the system. This demonstrates that the electromagnetic field of which the light consists is a vector. The diagonal polaroid passes a component at 45 degrees with respect to the original light, and the second polaroid passes a component at 45 degrees with respect to the diagonal p