Answer to Question #164100 in Optics for Jacusi

Question

 Describe as fully as you can the nature of linearly polarized light.

Answer 1

Molecules in air behave like a dipole radiator. When the sunlight falls on a molecule, dipole molecule does not scatter energy along the dipole axis, however the electric field vector of light wave vibrates just in one direction perpendicular to the direction of the propagation. The light wave having direction of electric field vector in a plane is said to be linearly polarized. 

In figure. a dipole molecule is lying along x-axis. Molecules behave like dipole radiators and scatter no energy along the dipole axis. 

The unpolarized light travelling along x-axis strikes on the dipole molecule get scattered along y and z directions. Light traversing along y and z directions is plane polarized light.