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Can reflection result in plane polarised...

Can reflection result in plane polarised light if the light is incident on the interface from the side with higher refractive index ?

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Here, incident ray is in denser medium (medium-2) and refracted ray is in rarer medium (medium-1). Hence, according to Brewster.s law,
`tantheta_(P)=(n_(1))/(n_(2))" "......(1)`
( Where `theta_(P)=` polarisation angle or Brewster angle)
Here if critical angle of denser medium w.r.t. rarer medium is C then according to Snell.s law,
`n_(2)sinC=n_(1)sin90^(@)`
`:.sinC=(n_(1))/(n_(2))" "......(2)`
From equation (1) and (2),
`tantheta_(P)=sinC`
`:.(sintheta_(P))/(costheta_(P))=sinC`
`:.sintheta_(P)=(costheta_(P))sinC`
But here `0ltcostheta_(P)lt1`
`impliessintheta_(P)ltsinC`
`impliessintheta_(P)ltsinC`
For a ray of light made incident on the surface of rarer medium with polarisation angle, satisfying above condition, reflected light will be completely plane polarised.
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Knowledge Check

  • A ray of light travelling in impure water is incident on a glass plate immersed in it. Wher the angle of incidence is 51^(@) , the reflected ray i totally plane polarised. Given that refractiv index of impure water is 1.4. The refractive index of glass should be ......

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