Optics Answers

Atmospheric haze is due to water droplets or smoke particles (“smog”). Such haze reduces visibility by scattering light, so that the light from distant objects becomes randomized and images become indistinct. Explain why visibility through haze can be improved by wearing red-tinted sunglasses, which filter out blue light

Does it make sense to talk about the polarization of a longitudinal wave, such as a sound wave? Why or why not?

If you look up from underneath toward the surface of the water in your aquarium, you may see an upside-down reflection of your pet fish in the surface of the water. Explain how this can happen.

A beam of light goes from one material into another. On physical grounds, explain why the wavelength changes but the frequency and period do not

Light requires about 8 minutes to travel from the sun to the earth. Is it delayed appreciably by the earth’s atmosphere? Explain

The laws of optics also apply to electromagnetic waves invisible to the eye. A satellite TV

dish is used to detect radio waves coming from orbiting satellites. Why is a curved reflecting

surface (a “dish”) used? The dish is always concave, never convex; why? The actual radio receiver

is placed on an arm and suspended in front of the dish. How far in front of the dish should it be

placed?

A polarizer and analyzer are oriented so that the amount of transmitted light is maximum. 

Through what angle should either be turned so that the intensity of transmitted light is 

reduced to (a) 0.75 and (b) 0.25 times the maximum intensity?

Two polarizing plates have polarizing directions parallel so as to transmit maximum intensity of light. Through what angle must either plates be turned if the intensity of the transmitted beam is one third the intensity of incident beam.

Polarizer and analyzer are set with their polarizing directions parallel so that the intensity of transmitted light is maximum. Through what angle should either be turned so that intensity be reduced to (a) 0.5 and 25% of maximum intensity?

A polarizer and analyzer are oriented so that the amount of transmitted light is maximum. Through what angle should either be turned so that the intensity of transmitted light is reduced to (a) 0.75 and (b) 0.25 times the maximum intensity?