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Polarizing Filters and Polarized Light

As shown in Figure 1, polarizing filters are materials that allow only the passage of light waves whose electric fields are oscillating in a particular plane.


Unpolarized light passing through a polarizing filter becomes polarized. Polarized light directed onto a second polarizer, oriented 90o to the first polarizer, will not be transmitted. Many natural substances, including liquid crystal materials, have the ability to rotate the plane of the polarized light.

[Introduction] back | forward [Experiment with Polarizers]


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This page created by S. Michael Condren Christian Brothers University. Last modified July 12, 2006