Question

An unpolarized light beam is incident on a surface at an angle of incidence equal to Brewster's angle. Then,

• A. the reflected and the refracted beams are both partially polarized.
• B. the reflected beam is partially polarized and the refracted beam is completely polarized and are at right angles to each other.
• C. the reflected beam is completely polarized and the refracted beam is partially polarized and are at right angles to each other.
• D. both the reflected and the refracted beams are completely polarized and are at right angles to each other.

Answer 1

The correct option is C the reflected beam is completely polarized and the refracted beam is partially polarized and are at right angles to each other.

When the light is polarized by reflection, then only reflected light is completely polarized with vibration of electric field vector in the direction perpendicular to the plane containing incident light and reflected light. And also, when the reflected light is polarized, the reflected light and refracted light will be perpendicular to each other.

Hence, $\left(C\right)$ is the correct answer.