Advanced Laboratory and/or Demonstration Apparatus Apparatus
Title: Polarization of reflected light Abstract : The apparatus
consists of a ray box, an acrylic prism, a glass slide, and a
polarizing sheet. The apparatus can demonstrate polarization of
reflected light at the Brewster angle and variation of the level
of polarization with angle of incidence. Description
Polarization of Reflected Light A ray box that gives parallel
rays of light from one end and a diverging beam from the other
end is used in this apparaus. As shown in Fig.1 an acrylic prism
is placed in the parallel rays symmetrically. The angle of
incidence of the rays falling on the prism is 600, very close to
the Brewster angle of acrylic (57.50), and, therefore, the
reflected rays are almost completely polarized. The polarization
can be demonstrated by placing the polarizer in front of the ray
box and changing its orientation. When the polarizer is held
horizontally the reflected light disappears showing that the
reflected light is polarized i