Question

Unpolarized light is incident from air, on a plane surface of a material of refractive index $\mu$. At a particular angle of incidence $i$, it is found that the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other. Which of the following option is correct for this situation?

• A. $i={\sin }^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu }\right)$
• B. Reflected light is polarized with its electric vector perpendicular to the plane of incidence
• C. Reflected light is polarized with its electric vector parallel to the plane of incidence
• D. $i={\tan }^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu }\right)$

Answer 1

The correct option is B Reflected light is polarized with its electric vector perpendicular to the plane of incidence

The figure shown below represents the course of path, an unpolarized light follows when it is incident from air on plane surface of material of refractive index $\mu$.



When the beam of unpolarized light is reflected from a medium (refractive index = $\mu$) and if reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other. Then, the reflected light is completely plane polarized at a certain angle of incidence. This means, the reflected light has electric vector perpendicular to incidence plane.

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