Question

When light passing through rotating nicol is observed, no change in intensity is seen. What inference can be drawn ?

• A. The incident light is unpolarized.
• B. The incident light is circularly polarized.
• C. The incident light is unpolarized or circularly polarized.
• D. The incident light is unpolarized or circularly polarized or combination of both.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The incident light is unpolarized or circularly polarized.

For ordinary unpolarized light and circularly polarized light, there is no change in intensity of illumination on passing it through rotating Nicol prism.