Question

An unpolarised light beam strikes a glass surface at Brewster's angle. Then

• A. The reflected light will be partially polarised.
• B. The refracted light will be completely polarised.
• C. Both the reflected and refracted light will be completely polarised.
• D. The reflected light will be completely polarised but the refracted light will be partially polarised.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understand Brewster’s Law

Brewster’s angle (\(\theta_B\)) is the angle of incidence at which light reflected from a surface is completely polarized. At this angle, the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other.

Step 2: Analyze the Reflection and Refraction

At Brewster’s angle, the reflected light is completely polarized in a direction perpendicular to the plane of incidence.

The refracted light is partially polarized because it consists of both components of polarization.

Step 3: Conclusion

The reflected light is completely polarized, while the refracted light is partially polarized.