Polarization of light proves that light is
A Longitudinal wave
B Transverse wave
C Scalar wave
D Sound-like wave
Only transverse waves can be polarized.
Unpolarized light has its electric field
A In a fixed plane
B Randomly oriented in all directions perpendicular to propagation
C Parallel to propagation
D Circular only
Malus’ law gives intensity after a polarizer–analyzer system as
A I = I₀ sinθ
B I = I₀ cosθ
C I = I₀ cos²θ
D I = I₀ / cos²θ
I = I₀ cos²θ.
A polarizer converts
A Polarized → unpolarized
B Unpolarized → partially or fully polarized
C Light into heat
D Light into sound
Brewster’s angle is the angle at which
A Reflection is maximum
B Reflection is minimum for perpendicular polarization
C Reflected light is completely plane polarized
D Transmission is zero
Brewster’s angle is given by
A tan iₚ = μ
B sin iₚ = 1/μ
C μ = iₚ
D μ = 1/iₚ
Brewster’s law: tan iₚ = n₂/n₁.
At Brewster angle, the reflected and refracted rays are
A Parallel
B Perpendicular to each other
C Coinciding
D Random
Double refraction (birefringence) occurs in
A Quartz
B Calcite
C Ice
D All of these
Many crystals show birefringence, including calcite and quartz.
Ordinary and extraordinary rays differ in
A Speed inside crystal
B Frequency
C Wavelength outside crystal
D Color
In a uniaxial crystal, the optic axis refers to direction
A Of polarization
B Along which ordinary and extraordinary rays travel same speed
C Of zero refraction
D Of total internal reflection
A Nicol prism works on
A Thin film interference
B Total internal reflection
C Refraction alone
D Diffraction
It uses TIR to eliminate one component, transmitting polarized light.
Nicol prism produces
A Circularly polarized light
B Linearly polarized light
C Unpolarized light
D Elliptical light
A quarter-wave plate introduces a phase difference of
A π/4
B π/2
C π
D 2π
A half-wave plate introduces phase difference of
A π
B π/2
C 2π
D π/4
A quarter-wave plate converts
A Linear → circular or elliptical (if at 45°)
B Circular → linear only
C Unpolarized → polarized
D Circular → sound
Half-wave plate rotates plane of polarization by
A θ
B 2θ (twice the angle between optic axis and incident polarization)
C θ/2
D 90° always
Optical activity is associated with
A Sugar solutions
B Quartz
C Polymers
D All above
These substances rotate plane of polarization.
Polaroids work based on
A Diffraction
B Dichroism (selective absorption of one polarization component)
C Interference
D Reflection
When unpolarized light passes through a polarizer, transmitted intensity is
A I₀
B I₀/2
C I₀/4
D Zero
Polarization by scattering occurs strongly for
A Very long wavelengths
B Very short wavelengths
C Only microwaves
D Only visible light
Sky appears blue due to
A Diffraction
B Interference
C Polarized scattering of short wavelengths
D Reflection from air
Circular polarization results from
A Two perpendicular linear waves with phase difference π/2 and equal amplitude
B One sine wave only
C Two parallel waves
D One wave of any phase
Elliptical polarization results when
A Amplitudes equal, phase = π/2
B Amplitudes unequal or phase ≠ π/2
C Unpolarized light
D Circularly polarized light only
Brewster angle for air–glass interface (n ≈ 1.5) is
A 30°
B 45°
C ~56°
D ~75°
tan iₚ = 1.5 → iₚ ≈ 56°.
Polarization cannot occur for
A Transverse waves
B Longitudinal waves
C EM waves
D Light waves
Analyzer is used to
A Produce polarization
B Detect/measure polarization state
C Change wavelength
D Remove intensity
Phase retardation between O-ray and E-ray in a crystal depends on
A Thickness
B Birefringence (nₑ − nₒ)
C Wavelength
D All of these
Optical rotation angle varies
A Directly with length of sample
B Inversely with wavelength
C Directly with concentration
D All of these
Polarization by reflection occurs strongly when
A Incident angle = 45°
B Incident angle = Brewster angle
C Normal incidence
D Incidence = 10°
At Brewster angle, reflected light is polarized
A Perpendicular to plane of incidence
B Parallel to plane of incidence
C Circular
D Elliptical
Quarter-wave plate converts circular polarization back to
A Elliptical only
B Linear (if oriented properly)
C Random
D None
Birefringence produces
A A single refracted ray
B Two rays: O-ray & E-ray
C No rays
D Infinite rays
Dichroism refers to
A Splitting of light into two rays
B Selective absorption of one polarization component
C Interference of polarized waves
D Reflection of two colors
When analyzer is crossed with polarizer, transmitted intensity is ideally
A I₀
B I₀/2
C Zero
D I₀/4
Brewster angle increases when
A Refractive index decreases
B Refractive index increases
C Wavelength increases
D Temperature decreases
tan iₚ = n → iₚ increases with n.
Huygens wavelets help explain
A Reflection only
B Refraction only
C Polarization
D Diffraction & interference
Optical path difference between O- and E-ray in a birefringent plate is
A (nₑ − nₒ)t
B nt
C t/λ
D nλ
The fast axis of a wave plate corresponds to
A Higher refractive index
B Lower refractive index
C Equal refractive index
D Changing refractive index
Polarization by double refraction requires
A Transparent isotropic medium
B Birefringent crystal
C Opaque surface
D Metal
Nicol prism is made of
A Calcite
B Quartz
C Sugar
D Polaroid
For circular polarization, the amplitude ratio of two perpendicular components must be
A 1:1
B 2:1
C √2:1
D Zero
When analyzer angle = 45° to polarizer, transmitted intensity is
A I₀
B I₀/2
C I₀/√2
D I₀/4
I = I₀ cos²45° = I₀/2.
Brewster angle phenomenon supports
A EM nature of light
B Particle nature
C Gravitational lensing only
D Sound wave propagation
Plane of vibration in a polarized beam is
A Perpendicular to E-field
B Parallel to E-field
C Circular
D Undefined
Optical rotation direction (dextro/levo) depends on
A Crystal type
B Molecular structure
C Concentration
D None
Stress-induced birefringence is used in
A Photoelasticity
B Microscopy only
C Polarizing sunglasses
D Interferometers only
A wave plate’s thickness is chosen so that
A It absorbs light
B It introduces a specific phase retardation
C It causes total reflection
D It scatters light
Light is fully polarized when
A Only one polarization component is present
B Both components equal
C No component
D All components equal
Polaroids reduce glare because
A They remove all light
B They absorb horizontally polarized component predominantly
C They reflect vertical light
D They increase wavelength
Elliptically polarized light can be obtained from
A A quarter-wave plate with unequal amplitudes
B Brewster reflection
C Double-slit
D Zone plates