Partial Polarization of Refracted Light – Rankers Physics

Miscellaneous: Practice Problem & Solution

Assertion (A): If light incident on surface of two different media. The refracted beam may be partially polarized. Reason (R): If sum of angle of incidence and angle of refraction is \(\pi/2\) then a reflected light is totally polarised.  
(1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
(2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(3) (A) is true but (R) is false
(4) Both (A) and (R) are false

Short Solution (Best for NEET):

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Miscellaneous. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

Assertion (A) is true. When unpolarized light is incident on the interface of two dielectric media, the refracted light is always partially polarized. Reason (R) is also true by Brewster's law; if the sum of the angle of incidence and refraction is \(90^circ\) (i.e., \(tan i_p = n\)), the reflected light is totally polarized. However, Reason (R) explains the total polarization of reflected light, not the partial polarization of refracted light, so R is not the correct explanation for A.

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