The different methods of producing plane polarised light are
(A) Reflection
(B) Scattering
(C) Double Refraction
(D) Selective absorption
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (B), (C) and (D)
Light is plane polarised when its electric vector vibrates in one plane only. Any process that treats the two perpendicular vibrations differently can produce it.
(A) Reflection — Correct. At Brewster's angle (\( \tan i_B = \mu \)) the reflected light is completely plane polarised.
(B) Scattering — Correct. Light scattered at \( 90^\circ \) by small particles (for example, sunlight scattered by air molecules) is plane polarised.
(C) Double Refraction — Correct. A crystal such as calcite splits a ray into two rays polarised in perpendicular planes.
(D) Selective absorption — Correct. A polaroid absorbs the vibrations in one direction and lets through those perpendicular to it (dichroism).