TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta

Huygens’s Wave Theory

(2 ) This theory explains successfully, the ph enom enon of
interference and diffraction apart from other properties of light. Plane
Plane I  r0 A  r0
(3 ) The Huy gen's theory fails to explain photo-electric WF
effect, Com pton's effect etc.
Light
(4 ) The wave theory introduces the concept of wavefront. r ays
Wavefront
(1 ) Suggested by Huygens
(2 ) The locus of all particles in a m edium, vibrating i n t he Reflection and Refraction of Wavefront
sam e phase is called Wave Front (WF)
Reflection
(3 ) The direction of propagation of l i g ht ( ray of l i g ht) i s B D
BC = AD i r
perpendicular to the WF. i r
and  i =  r
(4 ) Every point on the given wave front acts as a sou r ce of A C
new disturbance called secondary wavelets whic h t ravel i n al l Fig. 30.2
directions with the velocity of light in the medium.
B
(5) A surface touching these secondary wav elets Refraction
tangentially in the forward direction at any instant gives the new i i C
BC v1 sin i  2 r
wave front at that instant. This is called secondary wave front    A
AD v 2 sin r 1 r

Point source Fig. 30.3

Super Position of Waves
Secondary When two or m ore than two waves superimpose ov er ea ch
w avelets other at a common particle of the m edium t hen t he r esultant
Pr imary Secondary displacement (y) of the particle is equal to the vector sum of th e
w ave front w ave front displacements (y1 and y2) produced by i ndiv idual w aves. i. e .
Fig. 30.1
Drawback :- The secondary wavelets is not u n iform i n al l y  y1  y 2
direction ,indeed is m aximum in the forward direction and zer o Resultant
1 Resultant
in the backward.(regrous wave theory) 1
2

2
(A) (B)
Table 30.1 : Different t ypes of wavefront Fig. 30.4
Resultant Amplitude and Intensity
T ype of wavefront In tensity A mplitude
Spherical 1 1
I A
r2 r Resultant
y 2
Light ray
1
Spherical
WF

t
Point source
Cy lindrical 1 1
I A
Light ray r r Fig. 30.5
Let the two waves are
Cy lindrical
WF y1  a1 sin t and y 2  a2 sin( t  )
Lin e source
Page 1
TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta

where a1 , a2  Individual amplitudes, 

(ii) Path difference   (2n  1) (i.e. odd m ultiple of /2 )
2
 = Phase difference between the waves at an instant w hen
they are meeting a point. (iii) Resultant amplitude at the point of observation wil l b e
m inimum Amin  a1  a2
(1 ) Resultant amplitude : Th e r esu ltant wave c a n b e
written as y = A sin (  t + ) If a1  a2  Amin  0

where A = resultant amplitude  a12  a22  2a1a2 cos φ (iv ) Resultant intensity at the point of observ ati on w i ll b e

(2 ) Resultant intensity : As we know intensity 

m inimum I min  I1  I 2  2 I1 I 2  I 1  I2 
2

(Am plitude) 2 If I1  I2  I0  Imin  0

 I1  ka12 , I 2  ka 22 and I  kA 2
(k is a proportionality Ex:- The ratio of intensities of two waves is 9 : 1 . They are
constant). Resultant intensity I  I1  I2  2 I1 I2 cos producing interference. The ratio of m axim um and
m inimum intensities will be
For two identical source (a) 1 0 : 8 (b) 9 : 1
I1  I2  I0  I  I0  I0  2 I0 I0 cos  (c) 4 : 1 (d) 2 : 1

 
I  4 I0 cos2 [1 + cos  2 cos2 ]
2 2 Ex:-Y1= 4 sin(ωt+300) & Y2=3 sin(ωt+120)
Interference of Light
Find the equation of interference?
When two waves of exactly same frequency ( c om ing fr om
two coherent sources) trav els in a m edium , i n the sam e Y=5 sin(ωt+670)
direction simultaneously then due to t hei r su perposi ti on, a t Ex:- Two coherent sources of different intensi ties sen d
som e points intensity of light is m aximum while at som e ot h er
waves which interfere. The ratio of m aximum intensity t o
points intensity is m inim um . This phenom enon is called the m inim um intensity is 2 5:1 . The intensities of the
Interference of light. It is of following two types sources are in the ratio
(1 ) Constructive interference : When the waves m eets a (a) 2 5 : 1 (b) 5 : 1
point with same phase, constructive interference is obta i ned a t (c) 9 : 4 (d) 2 5 : 1 6
that point (i.e. m aximum light)
Young's Double Slit Experiment (YDSE)
(i) Phase difference between the wav es at the point of
observ ation   0 o or 2n  Monochrom atic light (single wav elength) falls on two
narrow slits S1 and S2 which are very close together ac ts a s t wo
(ii) Path difference between the wav es at the point of
coherent sources, when wav es com ing from two coherent
observ ation   n (i.e. even multiple of /2 )
sources (S 1 , S 2 ) superimposes on each other, a n i n terference
(iii) Resultant amplitude at the point of observation wil l b e
pattern is obtained on the screen. In YDSE alternate bright a nd
m aximum Amax = a1 + a2
dark bands obtained on the screen. These bands are called
If a1  a2  a0  Amax  2a0 Fringes.
(iv ) Resultant intensity at the point of observ ati on w i ll b e Screen
m aximum I max  I1  I 2  2 I1 I 2  I 1  I2 
2
3 Br ight
4 Dark
3 Dark
If I1  I2  I0  Imax  4I0 2 Br ight
2 Dark
S1 1 Br ight
(2 ) Dest ructive interference : When the wave m eets a 1 Dark
S d Central bright
point with opposite phase, destructive interference is ob t a i ned 1 Dark fr inge
at that point (i.e. minimum light) S2 1 Br ight (or Central
2 Dark
2 Br ight m axima)
(i) Phase difference   180 o or (2n  1)  ; n = 1, 2, ..... 3 Dark
3 Br ight
4 Dark
or (2n  1) ; n  0,1,2 ..... D
d = Dist ance between slits
D = Dist ance between slits and screen
 = W av elength of m on ochr om at ic
Page 2 light emitted from source

Fig. 30.9
TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta

(1 ) Central fringe is alway s bright, because at central

position   0 o or   0

(2 ) The fringe pattern obtained due to a slit is m ore b r ight

than that due to a point.

(3 ) If the slit widths are unequal, the m inim a w i ll not b e

com plete dark. For v ery large width uniform illum ination λ β
and angular fringe width θ  
occurs. d D

(4 ) If one slit is illuminated with red light and the other sl i t (4 ) In YDSE, if n1 fringes are visible in a field of v i ew wi th
is illum inated with blue light, no interference pattern is light of wavelength 1 , while n1 with light of wavelengt h  2 i n
observ ed on the screen. the sam e field, then n11  n2 2 .
(5) If the two coherent sources consist of object and it’s (6) Ident ificat ion of cent ral bright fringe : To
reflected image, the central fringe is dark instead of bright one. identify central bright fringe, m onochromatic light i s r eplac ed
by white light. Due to ov erlapping central m axima will be whi te
with red edges. On the other side of it we shall get a few
Useful Results
coloured band and then uniform illumination.
(1 ) Path difference : Condition for Observing Interference
xd (1 ) The initial phase difference between the interfering
  f   d sin 
D waves must remain constant.
P (2 ) The frequency and wavelengths of two waves shoul d b e
equal
S1 x (3 ) The light must be monochromatic
  (4 ) The am plitudes of the wav es m ust be equal. This
d C im proves contrast with Imax  4I0 and Imin  0.
M

S2
Shifting of Fringe Pattern in YDSE
Screen
t
D

Fig. 30.10
where x is the position of point P from central maxima. S1

For m axima at P :   n ; where n = 0,  1,  2 , ….. d C

(2n  1)
and For minima at P :   ; where n =  1,  2, …... S2
2
Screen
(2 ) Locat ion of fringe : Position of nth bright fringe fr om
D
n D
central maxima x n   nβ ; n  0, 1, 2 .... Fig. 30.12
d
D 
Position of nth dark fringe from central m axima (1 ) Fringe shift  (  1) t  (  1) t
d 
(2n  1) λD (2n  1) β (2 ) Additional path difference  (  1)t
xn   ; n  1, 2,3 ....
2d 2
(  1) t
(3) If shift is equivalent to n fringes then n  or
(3 ) Fringe widt h ( ) : The separation between a ny t wo 
consecutiv e bright or dark fringes is called fringe width. In n
t
λD (  1)
YDSE all fringes are of equal width. Fringe width β  .
d
NOTE:- IF white light used as a parent source . the c entral
bright fringes surrounded by few colored fringes.

S1
 Page 3


S2

D
Fig. 30.11
TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta

Ex:-Monochrom atic green light of wav elength (1 ) Source of light moves t owards t he st at ionary
7
5  10 m illum inates a pair of slits 1 mm apart. The observer : When a light source is m oving towards an observ er
separation of bright lines on the interference pattern with a relative velocity v then the apparent fr equency (  ' ) i s
form ed on a screen 2 m away is [CPMT
greater 1971;
than DPMTfrequency
the actual 1999] (  ) of l i g ht . T hus a pparent
(a) 0.2 5 mm (b) 0.1 mm wavelength ( ') is lesser the actual wavelength ( ).
(c) 1 .0 mm (d) 0.01 mm
(1  v / c) (1  v / c)
Ex:-In a certain double slit experim ent al a rrangem ent '  and  '  
(1  v / c) (1  v / c)
interference fringes of width 1.0 mm each a re ob serv ed
when light of wavelength 5000 Å is used. Keeping the set For v << c :
up unaltered, if the source is replaced by another sou r ce
 v
of wavelength 6 000 Å, the fringe width will be[CPMT 1988] (i) Apparent frequency      1   and
 c
(a) 0.5 mm (b) 1 .0 mm
(c) 1 .2 mm (d) 1 .5 mm  v
(ii) Apparent wavelength      1  
 c
1. A thin mica sheet of thickness 2  10 6 m a nd r efrac tive
index (  1.5) is introduced in the path of the first wave. (iii) Doppler’s shift : Apparent wav elength < actual
The wavelength of the wave used is 5000 Å. T he c entral wavelength,
bright m aximum will shift [CPMT 1999]
So spectrum of the radiation from the source of light sh i fts
(a) 2 fringes upward (b) 2 fringes downward towards the violet end of spectrum. This is called violet shift

(c) 1 0 fringes upward (d) None of these v

Doppler’s shift Δ   .
Ex:-The two slits at a distance of 1 mm are illuminated b y c
the light of wav elength 6 .5  10 7 m . The interference  v
(iv ) The fraction decrease in wavelength  
fringes are observed on a screen placed at a di stan ce of  c
1 m. The distance between third dark fringe and fifth
(2 ) Source of light moves away from t he st at ion ary
bright fringe will be [NCERT 1982; MP PET 1995; BVP 2003]
observer : In this case  ' <  and ' > 
(a) 0.6 5 mm (b) 1 .63 mm
(c) 3 .2 5 mm (d) 4 .88 mm (1  v / c) (1  v / c)
'  and  '  
(1  v / c) (1  v / c)
Ex:- In a YDSE find the thickness of a glass slab (µ = 1.5 ) w hic h
should be placed before the upper slit S 1 so that the central For v << c :
m aximum. now lies at a point where 5 th bright frnge was l y ing
 v
earlier(before inserting the slab)waveleng th of l i q ui d u sed i s (i) Apparent frequency      1   and
5000Å?  c

t (µ -1 )=5λ  v
(ii) Apparent wavelength      1  
 c

Missing Wavelength in Front of One Slit in YDSE (iii) Doppler’s shift : Apparent wav elength > actual
wavelength,
Suppose P is a point of observ ation infront of slit S1 as
shown So spectrum of the radiation from the source of light sh i fts
towards the red end of spectrum. This is called red shift
Missing wavelength at P
v
d2 Doppler’s shift Δ   .
 S1 P c
(2 n  1) D
d Central  v
By putting n  1, 2, 3 .... (iv ) The fractional increase in wavelength   .
position  c
S2
Missing wavelengths are Ex .A star is m ov ing towards the earth with a speed of
d d 2
d 2 2
4 .5  10 6 m/s. If the true wav elength of a certain line in the
 , , .... D
D 3D 5D spectrum receiv ed from the star is 5890 Å, its apparent
Fig. 30.13
wavelength will be about [c  3  10 8 m / s] [MP PMT 1999]
Doppler's Effect of
Light (a) 5890 Å (b) 5978 Å

Page 4
TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta
(c) 5802 Å (d) 589 6 Å
1. Due to Doppler's effect, the shift in wavelength ob serv ed
is 0.1 Å for a star producing wavelength 6 000 Å. Veloc ity (2 ) Fraunhofer diffraction : In this case both source and
of recession of the star will be screen are effectively at infinite distance fr om t he di ffracti ng
(a) 2 .5 km/s (d) 1 0 km/s dev ice.
(c) 5 km/s (d) 2 0 km/s Com m on examples : Diffraction at single sl i t , dou b le sl i t
and diffraction grating.

Diffraction of Light
(1) The phenom enon of bending of light around the Source Screen
corners of an obstacle/aperture of the size of the a t  Slit
wave length of light is called diffraction. Fig. 30.21

Diffraction at Single Slit (Fraunhoffer Diffraction

b O P
Un iform A 
 in tensity
b>> D distributio b 
O
n

(A ) Size of the slit is very large compared to wavelength Plane B Len s
w ave 
Screen
fr ont Slit
Fig. 30.22
Da rk
(1 ) The diffraction pattern consists of a central bright fringe
Da rk (central m axima) surrounded by dark and bright l i nes ( c al led
I secondary minima and maxima).
b O
Non-uniform (2 ) At point O on the screen, the central m axim a is
Da rk in tensity
 obtained. The wavelets originating from points A and B m eets in
distribution the sam e phase at this point, hence at O, intensity is m aximum.
b> D Da rk
(3 ) Secondary minima : For obtaining nth secondary
(B) Size of the slit is comparable t o wavelength m inim a at P on the screen, path difference between the
Fig. 30.19 diffracted waves   b sin  n
(2 ) The phenom enon resulting from the su perposi ti on of
n
secondary wavelets originating from different parts of the sa m e (i) Angular position of nth secondary m inima sin   
b
wave front is define as diffraction of light.
(ii) Distance of nth secondary minima from central m axima
(3 ) Diffraction is the characteristic of all types of waves.
n D n f
(4 ) Greater the wav e length of wav e higher will be it’s x n  D.   ; where D = Distance between
b b
degree of diffraction. slit and screen. f  D = Focal length of conv erging lens.
Types of Diffraction (4 ) Secondary maxima : For nth secondary maxim a at P
on the screen.
(1 ) Fresnel diffraction : If either source or screen or both

are at finite distance from the diffracti ng dev i ce ( ob st ac le or Path difference   b sin  (2n  1) ; where n = 1 , 2 , 3 .....
aperture), the diffraction is called Fresnel type. 2
(i) Angular position of nth secondary m axima
Com m on examples : Diffraction at a straight edge, n arrow
wire or sm all opaque disc etc. (2n  1)
sin   
2b
(ii) Distance of nth secondary maxima from central maxima
S (2n  1)D (2n  1)f
x n  D.  
2b 2b
Source
Screen
Slit
Fig. 30.20
Page 5
TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta

(5) Cent ral maxima : The central maxima l i es b et ween (c) 0 . 72 o (d) 0 .09 o
the first minima on both sides.
EX:-A beam of light of wavelength 600 nm from a distant source
falls on a single slit 1 mm wide and the resulting diffraction
pattern is observed on a screen 2 m away. The distance between
Fir st
x the first dark fringes on either side of the central bright fringe is [IIT -JEE
 m inimaCentral
 x m axim (a) 1 .2 mm (b) 1 .2 cm
Fir st a
D f m inima (c) 2 .4 cm (d) 2 .4 mm

Fig. 30.23
2 Resolving Limit and Resolving Power
(i) The Angular width d central maxima = 2 
b
(1 ) Microscope : In reference to a m icroscope, the
(ii) Linear width of central m axim a m inimum distance between two lines at whi c h t hey a re j u st
2f distinct is called Resolv ing lim it (RL) and it’s reciprocal is
 2 x  2 D  2 f 
b called Resolv ing power (RP)

(6) Int ensity distribution : If the intensity of the central 

O
m axima is I 0 then the intensity of the first and second secondary
Objectiv
I I e
m axima are found to be 0 and 0 . Thus diffrac tion fri nges
22 61 Fig. 29.87
are of unequal width and unequal intensities.  2  sin 1
R.L.  and R.P.   R. P. 
2  sin  
Central
Secondary maxima I0 m aximum  = Wav elength of light used to illuminate the object,
Fir st Second
Second Fir st m inimum m inimu  = Refractiv e index of the m edium between object and
I0/22 I0/6 1 m objective,

O  = Half angle of the cone of light from the point object,

2   3 2 3
   sin  = Numerical aperture.
b b b b b b
(2 ) Telescope : Sm allest angular separations (d) between
Central two distant objects, whose images are separated in the telescope
m axima 1 .22 
is called resolving limit. So resolving limit d  
a
Fig. 30.24
1 a 1
 sin  
2 and resolving power (RP )    R. P.  where a =
I = Io   where  is just a conv enient connection d  1 .22  
   aperture of objective.
between the angle  that locates a point on the v iewing EX:-What is the angular resoluti on of a 1 0 c m di am eter
screening and light intensity I . telescope at a wavelength of .06 µm?

 = Phase difference between the top and bottom r ay from ANS:- 7 .32µ RAD
the slit width b. Polarisation of Light
1 b Light propagates as transverse EM waves. The magnitude of
Also    sin 
2  electric field is m uch larger as com pared to m agnitude of
EX:-A slit of width a is illum inated by whi te l i ght . For m agnetic field. We generally prefer to describe l ight a s el ec tri c
red light ( = 6 500 Å), the first minima i s ob t a i n ed a t field oscillations.
  30 o . Then the value of a will be [MP PMT 1987; CPMT 2002](1 ) Unpolarised light : In ordinary light (light from su n,
bulb etc.) the electric field v ectors are distributed in all
(a) 3 2 50 Å (b) 6 .5  10 4 mm directions in a light is called unpolarised light. The oscillation of
(c) 1 .24 microns (d) 2 .6  10 4 cm propagation of light wave. This resolv ed i n to h or izon tal an d
v ertical com ponent.
EX:-The light of wavelength 6 328 Å is incident on a slit of
width 0.2 mm perpendicularly , the angular width of
V ertical oscillation
central maxima will be [MP PMT 1987; Pb. PMT 2002]

(a) 0 .36 o (b) 0.18 o Dir ection of Hor izontal oscillation

pr opagation
Page 6
Fig. 30.35
TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta

(2 ) Polarised light : The phenom enon of lim iting the

v ibrating of electric field v ector in one direction in a plane
perpendicular to the direction of propagation of l i g h t wave i s
called polarization of light.
(i) I  I0 cos 2  and A 2  A 02 cos 2   A  A0 cos
(i) The plane in which oscillation occur s i n t he pol a rised
light is called plane of oscillation.
If   0 o , I  I0 , A  A0 , If   90 o , I  0 , A  0
(ii) The plane perpendicular to the plane of osc i l l a ti on i s
called plane of polarisation. (ii) If Ii  Intensity of unpolarised light.
(iii) Light can be polarised by transmitting through certai n Ii
So I0  i.e. if an unpolarised light is conv erted into
crystals such as tourmaline or polaroids. 2
(3 ) Polaroids : It is a dev ice used to produce the plane plane polarised light (say by passing it through a Pol a roi d or a
polarised light. It is based on the principle of selectiv e I
Nicol-prism), its intensity becomes half. and I  i cos 2 
absorption and is m ore effective than the tourmaline crystal. or 2
It is a thin film of ultram icroscopic cry stals of quinine Methods of Producing Polarised Light
idosulphate with their optic axis parallel to each other.
(1 ) Polarisation by reflection : Brewster discovered that
when a beam of unpolarised light is reflected from a transparent
T ransmission
m edium (refractive index = ), the reflected light is c om pletely
a x is
plane polarised at a certain angle of incidence (called the a ngle
Det ector of polarisation  p ).

Plane polarised
r eflected light
Pr ojection of
Un polarized light Polarizer t ransmitted E
Un polarised P P
field 9 0o
light
Fig. 30.36 
(i) Polaroids allow the light oscillations parallel to the r
transmission axis pass through them. Pa rtial
polarised
(ii) The crystal or polaroid on which u npol arised l i ght i s r efracted light
Fig. 30.39
incident is called polariser. Cry stal or polaroid on whi ch
polarised light is incident is called analyser. From fig. it is clear that P + r = 90 o
T ransmission A nalyzer Also   tan  p Brewster’s law
a x es
Polarizer
(i) For i < P or i > P
Det ector Both reflected and refracted ray s becom es partial ly
polarised
(ii) For glass  P  57 o , for water  P  53 o
Polarised No light
light (2 ) By Dichroism : Som e crystals such as tourmaline a nd
Un polarized light
sheets of iodosulphate of quinine have the property of st r on gly
(B) T r ansmission axis of the analyser is perpendicular to the polariser, absorbing the light with vibrations perpendicular t o a spec i fi c
h ence no light passes through the analyser
direction (called transmission axis) transmitting the l ig ht wi th
Fig. 30.37 v ibrations parallel to it. This selectiv e absorption of light is
(4 ) Malus law : This law states that the i ntensi ty of t h e called dichroism.
polarised light transmitted through the analyser v ari es a s t h e
square of the cosine of the angle between the plane of (3 ) By double refraction : In certain crystals, l i ke c alcite,
transmission of the analyser and the plane of the polariser. quartz and
tourm aline etc, E-r ay
T ransmission A nalyzer
incident
a x es
Polarizer unpolarized light Un polarize

splits up into two d light
Ca licte O-ray
In t ensity = I Fig. 30.40
A m plitude = APage 7
In t ensity = I0
A m plitude = A 0
Un polarized light
Fig. 30.38
TOPIC:- Wave optics by:Amit gupta

light beams of equal intensities with perpendicular polarization. EX:- A polaroid is placed at 45 o to an incom ing l i ght of
(i) One of the ray is ordinary ray (O-ray) it obey's the Snell's intensity I0 . Now the intensity of light passi ng t hrou gh
law. Another ray's extra ordinary ray (E-ray) i t doesn 't ob ey 's polaroid after polarisation would be
the Snell's law. (a) I0 (b) I0 / 2
(ii) Along a particular direction (fixed in the crystal, the two (c) I0 / 4 (d) Zero
v elocities (v elocity of O-ray v o and v elocity of E-ray v e) are
EX:-A light has amplitude A and angle between analy ser
equal; this direction is known as the opt ic a xis of t h e c ry stal
and polariser is 60°. Light is reflec ted by a naly ser h as
(crystal's known as uniaxial crystal). Optic axis is a direction and
am plitude
not any line in crystal.
[UPSEAT 2001]
(iii) In the direction, perpendicular to the optic axis for
negative crystal (calcite) v e > v o and e < o. (a) A 2 (b) A / 2

For positiv e crystal v e < v o, e > o. (c) 3A / 2 (d) A / 2

(4 ) Nicol prism : Nicol prism is m ade up of calcite crysta l Ex:-The refractive index of a m edium is √3 . what is the angle of
and in it E-ray is refraction if the unpolarised . light is incident on it at the
Ca nada balsam layer polarizing angle of m edium ? r=300
isolated from O-ray
through total internal E-r ay EM Spectrum
reflection of O-r ay a t
The whole orderly range of frequencies/wavelengths of t h e
canada balsam l ayer Un polarize
O-ray EM waves is known as the EM spectrum.
and then absorbing i t d light
at the blackened Bla ckened surface
surface as shown in
Fig. 30.41
fig.
The refractive index for the O-ray is m ore that for the E-ray.
The refractiv e index of Canada balsa m lies between the
refractive indices of calcite for the O-ray and E-ray
(5) By Scat t ering : It is found that scattered light in
directions perpendicular to the direction of incident light is
com pletely plane polarised while transm itted light is
unpolarised. Light in all other directions is partially polarised.
(7 ) Applications and uses of polarisation Fig. 30.48
Table 30.2 : Uses of EM spect rum
(i) By determining the polarising angle and using Brewster's
law, i.e.  = tanP, refractive index of dark transparent substance Ra diation Uses
can be determined.
 -r ays Giv es in for m a t ion s on n u clea r
(ii) It is used to reduce glare. st ructure, medical treatment etc.
(iii) In calculators and watches, numbers a nd l ett ers a re X-r ays Medical diagnosis and treatment st udy
form ed by liquid crystals through polarisati on of l i g ht c all ed
of cr y st a l st r u ct u r e, in du st r ia l
liquid crystal display (LCD).
r a diograph.
(iv ) In CD player polarised laser beam a ct s a s n eedl e for
producing sound from com pact disc which is an encoded digital UV- rays Pr eserve food, sterilizing t he su r gica l
form at. in struments, det ect ing t h e inv is ible
(v ) It has also been used in recording and reproducing w ritings, finger prints etc.
three-dimensional pictures. V isible light T o see objects
(v i) Polarisation of scattered sunlight is used for navigation In frared rays T o t reat, muscular st r ain f or t akin g
in solar-com pass in polar regions. ph otography during the fog, haze etc.
(v ii) Polarised light is used in optical stress analysis know n In r adar and telecommunication.
Micro wave and r adio
as 'photoelasticity'.
w ave
(v iii) Polarisation is also used to study asy m m etries in
m olecules and cry stals through the phenom enon of 'optical
activity'.
(ix) A polarised light is used to study surface of nucleic
acids (DNA, RNA)

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