The Polarization of Light

Riverhead WISE Project
By Michelle Duvall and Anna Sheehan
Spring 2001

What is Light? There are various theories to what light is and how it travels. Some theories include particles-photons, wave theory, rays,.... The wave theory is supported by the process of polarization. Polarization is the process of blocking out certain types of waves. Polarization allows only spcific waves following a certain direction. This can best be explained by a key only entering a lock in a certain direction. Here are pictures of examples of polarization of light:

Microwaves produce a frequency domain equal to about 3x10^11 Hz. Electrons emit three times the amount of energy of their frequency by dropping from higher energy levels. By altering their state of motion, electrons emit energy in microwaves.

Here are some interesting effects of polarization in our environment. The first two pictures display a polarizing lens blocking out rays emitted from the glare on the desk. The next two pictures show the effects of the combination of two polarizing lenses of all natural light.

       

In conclusion, we have observed the differences between polarized light and natural light. Polarization is used daily in our own settings, ranging from sunglasses to the windshield in our cars and the microscreen in our microwaves, separating from natural light from polarized rays.