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Q.If θ\theta is the polarizing angle, then the refractive index of the materials is

(a) sin⁡θ\sin\theta
(b) cos⁡θ\cos\theta
(c) tan⁡θ\tan\theta
(d) cot⁡θ\cot\theta
Manipur CohsemCOHSEM Manipur Higher Secondary Board 2016MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
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Brewster's law: n=tan⁡θpn = \tan\theta_p, where θp\theta_p is the polarizing (Brewster) angle.

When unpolarized light is incident on a transparent medium at a particular angle of incidence — the polarizing angle (or Brewster's angle) θp\theta_p — the reflected light is found to be completely (linearly) polarized, with its plane of vibration perpendicular to the plane of incidence. At this angle, the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other (θp+r=90∘\theta_p + r = 90^\circ).

Applying Snell's law, n=sin⁡θpsin⁡rn = \dfrac{\sin\theta_p}{\sin r}, and using r=90∘−θpr = 90^\circ - \theta_p so sin⁡r=sin⁡(90∘−θp)=cos⁡θp\sin r = \sin(90^\circ - \theta_p) = \cos\theta_p:

n=sin⁡θpcos⁡θp=tan⁡θpn = \dfrac{\sin\theta_p}{\cos\theta_p} = \tan\theta_p

This relation is known as Brewster's law.

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