Answer to Question #292557 in Optics for Chemistry

Question

Light scattered from blue sky is strongly polarized because of the nature of the scattering

process described in Section 33.6. But light scattered from white clouds is usually not polarized.

Why not?

Answer 1

Solution

According to concepts of optics the light scattered from the blue sky gets strongly polarized because there is charges particles are available in air which send the light radiations in the direction perpendicular to the direction of charges oscillation. Because of this vibration of charge parcticles strong polarization happens. in other hand, the white clouds takes high concentration of water droplets or ice crystals. Because of these water droplets, the probability of vibration of charge of air molecule decreases. Hence the light scattered from white clouds is not get polarized.