Question

A scuba diver sees light reflected from the water’s surface. At what angle relative to the water’s surface will this light be completely polarized?

Answer 1

When light is reflected from the surface of water, it becomes partially polarized. The angle at which the light becomes completely polarized is known as the polarizing angle or Brewster's angle. The polarizing angle for light reflected from the water's surface is approximately 53.1 degrees.

Step-by-step explanation:

When light is reflected from the surface of water, it becomes partially polarized. The angle at which the light becomes completely polarized is known as the polarizing angle or Brewster's angle. This angle can be calculated using the equation:

Polarizing angle = arctan(refractive index)

where the refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium (in this case, water). The refractive index for water is approximately 1.333.

Therefore, the polarizing angle for light reflected from the water's surface is approximately 53.1 degrees. At this angle, the light will be completely polarized, meaning it will oscillate in only one plane.