Covered in class on Monday 4/11 (Week 14) Jonathan Szuch

 Polarization is used to describe the motion of waves of light.  The waves are perpendicular to the direction in which the wave is traveling.  The waves are either up and down or left to right in their motion.  The motion of the waves in polarized light occur in a single plane.

 Nonpolarized light is light in which the motion of the waves is in all directions.  Nonpolarized light is light that comes directly from the sun or other light source such as lightbulbs.

 Light becomes polarized in many cases.  A polarized filter can be used to change nonpolarized light into polarized light by only allowing waves on a single plane to pass through.  Glares off of water, glass, or other surfaces is reflected as polarized light.  This leads to the use of polarized sunglasses to block the glares from these various surfaces.

 Polarized light waves can be blocked out by the use of polarized lenses.  The lenses only allow light waves with a certain linear motion through so all the other waves are blocked out.

 Polarization is used in various degrees:  Cameras  Sunglasses  LCD electronics

 Cameras can be equipped with a polarized lens which enhances the pictures taken.  The lenses block out glares and highlight images taken outdoors.

 Polarized sunglasses have lenses that are made to only allow vertical light waves pass through.  Reflective surfaces such as water and glass reflect only horizontal light waves.  The horizontal light waves are completely blocked out by the lenses, thus diminishing the glares from these surfaces.

 Polarized sunglasses provide many benefits.  They are particularly beneficial for fishing, when the light is reflected off the water.  The glasses block the glare off the water and even allow fishermen to see into the water.  Nonpolarized sunglasses do not block out glares from the water, and therefore, it is very difficult to see into the water.

 Polarized filters are used in LCD electronics today.  The light first passes through one polarized filter.  Then, the light is passed through a layer of liquid crystals.  Finally, the light is passed through another polarized filter.

 Now that I have a better understanding of polarization, there are a few things I will look at differently.  I will know seriously consider spending a little extra money to buy polarized sunglasses over nonpolarized ones.  Also, I will be sure that my camera is equipped with a polarized filter so my pictures turn out in the highest quality.

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