What is the Difference Between Polarized Light and Unpolarized Light?

The main difference between polarized and unpolarized light lies in the direction of their electric fields and the planes in which the light waves vibrate. Here are the key differences:

1. Direction of Electric Field Oscillation: In polarized light, the electric field oscillates in one direction only, while in unpolarized light, the electric field oscillates in every direction.
2. Vibration Planes: Unpolarized light vibrates in more than one plane, whereas polarized light vibrates in a single plane.
3. Natural Coherence: Polarized light is naturally coherent, meaning it has a consistent orientation and direction of vibration. In contrast, unpolarized light is incoherent, with random orientations and directions of vibration.
4. Intensity Determination: The intensity of polarized light is determined by the type of light used, while the intensity of unpolarized light is determined by the source.
5. Glare Reduction: Polarized lenses, which are designed to filter out polarized light, can help reduce glare and improve visibility in certain situations, such as in direct sunlight or when looking at screens.

Most light sources emit unpolarized light, which has electric fields oscillating in random directions. Polarized light can be created by using a Polaroid filter, which blocks one of the two planes of vibration, resulting in light with vibrations in a single plane.

Comparative Table: Polarized Light vs Unpolarized Light

Here is a table comparing the differences between polarized light and unpolarized light:

Polarized light has vibrations that occur in a single plane, and its electric field oscillates in one direction. Unpolarized light, on the other hand, has vibrations that are free to move in any plane, and its electric field oscillates in all directions.