Polarization

Polarization   2010
 

Table of Content

Section Page

Background………………………………….3

Experiment 1………………………………...4

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Polarization   2010
 

BACKGROUND
Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, just like Radio waves, television waves, radar,
microwaves, infrared waves, X-rays, and Gamma rays. One of the characteristic of light is that
light is broken up into discreet units. They are actually bundles of energy which we call
photons. Just like in a stream of water, it is actually water molecules (H2O) which are moving
down the river. In a beam of light, it is actually photons of light which are moving along at the
speed of light.

Light, like all electromagnetic radiation, exhibit the properties of wavelength and frequency.
So we know that light acts like a wave.

As the light goes from left to right it actually follows the wavy line that goes up and down
as it goes toward the right. So we can see that the photon of light can vibrate up and down as
it goes toward the right.

Now each photon is independent from the other photons. So we could have some photons
vibrate up and down, others vibrate in other directions. That is exactly what happens. Each
photon vibrates in it's own plane, or it's own direction.

What a polaroid lens does is to let through the light that vibrates only in the proper direction.
The picture shows the first lens (in both Experiment 1 &2), as only letting through the light
that vibrates up and down. All the other light is stopped.

Now, it's what we do with the second lens that determine the outcome of the experiment. If
we have the second lens oriented in the same direction as the first lens, (as in Experiment 1)
then only the light that vibrates up and down will pass through both lenses.

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Polarization   2010
 
If on the other hand, the second lens is oriented as in Experiment 2, (letting only the light that
vibrates right and left) then no light will reach your eyes.

THEORY
A polarizer only allows light which is vibrating in a particular plane to pass through
it.  This  plane  forms  the  “axis”  of  polarization.  Unpolarized  light  vibrates  in  all  planes  
perpendicular to the direction of propagation. If unpolarized light is incident upon an
“ideal”  polarizer,  only  half  will  be  transmitted  through  the  polarizer.  Since  in  reality  
no  polarizer  is  “ideal”,  less  than  half  the  light  will  be  transmitted.  The  transmitted  
light is polarized in one plane. If this polarized light is incident upon a second
polarizer, the axis of which is oriented such that it is perpendicular to the plane of
polarization of the incident light, no light will be transmitted through the second
polarizer.

However, if the second polarizer is oriented at an angle so that it is not perpendicular

to the first polarizer, there will be some component of the electric field of the
polarized light that lies in the same direction as the axis of the second polarizer, thus
some light will be transmitted through the second polarizer (see the bottom figure).

The component, E, of the polarized electric field, Eo, is found by:


Since the intensity of the light varies as the square of the electric field, the light
intensity transmitted through the second filter is given by:

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Polarization   2010
 
I = I0 cos2 Ø

where Io is the intensity of the light passing through the first filter and Ø is the angle
between the polarization axes of the two filters.

Consider the two extreme cases illustrated by this equation:

•  If  Ø is zero, the second polarizer is aligned with the first polarizer, and the value of
cos2Øis one. Thus the intensity transmitted by the second filter is equal to the light
intensity that passes through the first filter. This case will allow maximum intensity
to pass through.

•  If  Ø is 90º, the second polarizer is oriented perpendicular to the plane of

polarization of the first filter, and the cos2 (90) gives zero. Thus no light is
transmitted through the second filter. This case will allow minimum intensity to pass
through.

•  These  results  assume  that  the  only  absorption  of  light  is  due  to  polarizer effects. In
fact most polarizing films are not clear and thus there is also some absorption of light
due to the coloring of the polaroid filters.

-5- Areej Al-Jarb

Polarization 2010

Experiment 1: POLARIMETER

The polarimeter is used for the determination of the concentration of optically active
substances.

For this the sodium light with a wavelength of 589 nm is linearly polarized by means
of a polarizer. This light then passes through the solution to be investigated and is
observed through an analyzer. Optically active substances rotate the polarization
plane. By measuring the rotational angle by means of the analyzer, the concentration
of the solution can now be calculated.

1 Polarimeter
a) eyepiece with magnifying lens for
b) scales and vernier
c) adjustment screw for turning the analyzer
d) sample chamber with cover
e) polarizer
f) sodium lamp with cover
g) mains switch
2 Sodium lamp
3 Round cuvette 100 mm
4 Round cuvette 200 mm

.
Technical data
Polarimeter
Measuring range: 0 ... 180 °
Scale division: 1°
Reading precision: 0.05 ° (vernier)
sodium lamps
Wavelength: 589 nm
Round cuvette 100
Length: 100 mm
Diameter: 10 mm
Round cuvette 200
Length: 200 mm
Diameter: 10 mm

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Polarization 2010

THEORY
Once the light goes through the first polarizer lens (just like a polarid lens) only the
light that vibrates up and down get through. Now the light enters the tube that is filled
with the active substance. When it goes through the solution, the light begins to twist.
The plane of light changes so that after the light comes out of the tube, it is now
vibrating in another direction, not up and down, but a different direction.

It is the job of the second polarizer lens (analyzer) to determine how much the light
has twisted or rotated. This second polarizer is rotated by the scientist until the light
disappears. Then the angle is noted and recorded. So a Polarimeter actually measures
how much the light has been rotated by a specific substance.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the coefficient of specific rotation for the sugar solution.

EQUIPMENT

–polarimeter
–sugar solution of different concentration (5% , 10% , 15% , 20% , 25% , 30).

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 LAB 9: Polarization
Results(Polarization)
The polarimeter is used for the determination of the concentration of optically active substances.
For this a sodium light with a wavelength of 589 (nm) is linearly polarized by means of a polarizer.
This light passes through the solution to be investigated and is observed through an analyzer. Optically
active substances rotate the polarization plane. By measuring the rotational angle by means of the
analyzer, the concentration of the solution can now be calculated using the following relation :
.
a) Determination of the length of the tube(optical path)
L = 100 ( mm)= 1 (dm)

b) Optical zeroing (calibration)

1. Switch on the sodium lamp and wait a short time for it to warm up.
2. Turn the analyzer with the adjustment screw to 0° so that the circle is uniformly lit (dark), i.e.
so that no central line is visible. When the analyzer is turned about the zero position the
central line and the two edge areas become light or dark. For this reason deviations from the
zero position can very easily be observed.

c) Filling a round cuvette (tube)

1. Hold the tube vertical so that the thicker part is at the top.
2. Take off the upper screw ring; remove the internal cap, sealing ring and glass disc.
3. Fill the tube with the liquid to be investigated with as few bubbles as possible.
4. Replace the glass disc, sealing ring and internal cap and tighten with the screw ring.

d) Determination of the angle of rotation

1. Place the tube with the liquid to be investigated into the sample chamber Turn the analyzer
with the adjustment screw in such a way that the observed circle is again uniformly (dark).
2. Read the angle of rotation from the scale by means of the vernier scale

( ) ( )
=

Unknown
e) Determination of the Specific rotation of sugar solution
1. Plot a graph between the concentration c (x-axis) and the rotation angle θ (y-axis) which will
give a straight line, and find its slope
2. Calculate the specific rotation of sugar solution using the relation :
(ml ° /g dm)

f) Determination of the concentration of the unknown concentration (from graph)