Question

An unpolarised light beam strikes a glass surface at Brewster's angle. Then

• A. The reflected light will be partially polarised.
• B. The refracted light will be completely polarised.
• C. Both the reflected and refracted light will be completely polarised.
• D. The reflected light will be completely polarised but the refracted light will be partially polarised.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Define Brewster’s Law

Brewster’s angle (\(\theta_B\)) is the angle of incidence where light reflected from a surface becomes fully polarized. At this angle, the reflected and refracted light rays are at a 90-degree angle to each other.

Step 2: Examine Light Behavior

When light strikes at Brewster’s angle, the reflected light is entirely polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence.

The refracted light, however, is only partially polarized as it contains both polarization components.

Step 3: Summarize Findings

The reflected light exhibits complete polarization, whereas the refracted light shows partial polarization.