Discuss the mechanisms responsible for the pola... - SS2 Physics Optics - Wave Optics Question

The polarisation of light can occur through various mechanisms. Reflection is one such mechanism, where light waves incident on a smooth surface can become polarised parallel to the surface. This is known as Brewster's law. When light waves pass through a polarising material, such as a polarising filter, transmission can selectively allow light waves with a particular polarisation direction to pass through, while blocking others. Scattering of light by small particles, such as air molecules or dust particles, can also lead to polarisation. When light scatters, the scattered waves can become polarised, with the electric field vectors aligned perpendicular to the direction of scattering. This is known as Rayleigh scattering and is responsible for the polarisation of the blue sky.