l

- -~e~xpw,~ ....--. :-,.. o arl rne ter

-:=c..==4.·=<·;;:;:;;;._;;;:;;:.;; ;; ;: ]; -- -- = = = = =
cl CU, Q. 1.
= -- -- -- = -- -- -- -- -- ----1.&__!
W ha t are Yo u do ln
~ An s. Sir , I am d ete It _? . 'V i" il •'V oc e
\
b J/ii, ha lf sha de po lar un ('
bte Q. 2. W ha t do yo u tne ~l llg the 8 e .
a~e r (or 'Bi -qu ~ <:ttic rot atio n
o~1 · ✓An s. Th e specif i by 8 \leeltle
of ca
'\ wa vel eng th of Ii~ ~ t~t ati on rtz Polarimeter a.s ~c sug ar sol uti
of a:o ta~on. 'l on wi th the hel p of La urc otz
\ • e cas e ma y be) .
po lar ise d be am pro dt 18
d efi ned as ~~tica\ly act wc su~
If 0 is the uced b. Yo ne dec~c tota ti0 •ft-
us'4
its sol uti on is C gtn J rot atio illle n (in degr llce )
at a ,
.
gw en tem per atu re for a giv
n Ptoduc ed : r len gth the of: :~
is ex pre sse d as of pla ne of pol ans ati on of inc en
c c, lhe n specitic rotay· 1 declllle
ter ide nt
leng~ta~ce of uni t den sity (co nce
tio n S at a giv en tei ~ a sub sta ntr atio n).
nce . the con cen tra tio n of
era tur e ' for a a1ven wa vel eng
th ,i
Q. '.l.
/
/ what do yo u me an b
An s : Ce rta in sub sta nc! sohptlc
s~::::
a.Uy act lve SUbst
k
o f a p 1an e po1an.sed lig ht wave a te d
substances. n ency to rotanc
ate
c "?
Q 4 Ho w ma ny ty hen Pro pagated Uuo ~e pla ne
of pol ari sat ion .
. -:I/ An s . Th pe s of Optically acttve b ugh it. Such substa (ot p\a ne of vib rat ion )
'f . ere are tw o es f . su sta nces are called optically act1vc
su bs tan ce s an d (ii) Letyp nces are kt
ft h o optically act ive sub ta
,own to you
Q. ..,... W ha t do yo u me an and
by rl h ed Or laev o-rotatory sub s nces · 'i) R' h ?
su bs tan ce s ? stnn~e, ig t handed or dextco-rotato
g t handed or dextro -ro tat
An s : Th e su bs tan ce s that •ft s.
ry
.
d ire . ro\ (lte ory 1ln.d \et t ha nded or \a.e vo
cti on as see n by an obse the ~la f -ro ato~
rot ato ry. . nc O polarisation (or lane -J
rver fac ing 1he emergent lig hti s . . .
'IJle su bs tan ce s tha t rotate the _odf pol ans_at1on) 1nt he c\ock.wise
. sa1 to b e n ght h and, d <1
d rre · P 1ane ofp e or ex.tro-
cti on as se en by an ob se rv erf a. olarisaf ,.
th ion ,or p\a ne ofp o\a risation) int h t' \
Q. 6. Gi ve few ex am ple s of
above
tw :~p e:: ~e rge ntl igh tis sai dto
An s : Th e ex am ple s of right ha be \efthanded ~ ~~~:-~ ~! :st
nded d substances 'l
a Icoh o1, ca ne su ga r (with.out or :ry.
crystali.neext ra-rotatory substa
stru ) nces'B.
•'-
amorphous tartaric acid, d-quartz ~e; me so\ut\on of caml)hot in
pi co tin e, tur pe nti ne oil and I-quar 1 d
etc. The ;;: ue Glucpse, solution
of tartanc ac\.d in. water,
tz. e an ed or laevo-totatory substa
Q. b. ~ -W..hat do yo u mean by nces are ; "Fructose,
op tic all y inactive substances'>
~Ans : Optically inactive substanc G.
• es are those wh en a p~lan:ve ~n~ or d~ ~.cx~m\)\c,.
its pla ne o f po1an•sa tio
.
n (or . . ,
plane of vibration) remains uru:otpo ianse 11gut passes \\uoui\l \b.cm
ated• Th:u" tb. ,
e p1a ~ , • .
•
of em erg en t be am 1s same as that of incident po\arised ne -po1ansat1on
.<>
su bs tan ce s are; fused quartz (qu beam. The ex.am1>\es ot opt01
ica\\-y mactive
artz in an amorphous fonn) , calcite etc
.Q. 8. W ha t do yo u mean by .
rotatory polarisation and opticall
An s : It is fo un d th at when a beam y activt substances~
of plane polarised light propagates thtou
or crystals, the plane of polarisatio g'n certain subs\anccs
n (or plane of vibrations) otthe emergent
as th at of the incident polarised beam beamis not the mn t
but has been totated \hrough a certain
of propagation. This phenomenon ang\e about its dittctio
of rotation of the p\ane or ~o\arlsa~i~
is called rotatory polarisation. n \~t 1>\ane orvibta\io
Toe substances ot crysta\s wh1c'n ex.b.1b
op tic all y active substances. 1t \h1s -ptopcrty uc Q
 p
"' h"I Is plane of poh,rln tJon and plane of vibratio n 7 ,.
. 9. -,, ..
'Aocl: Plane of vlbr1ttio . • g the di.recuon of NO· 4: Po\ar
n : The plan~ contal.Illll Ued the plane £:."pt- ·::.:.- --,
vabrahon and the direction of propaga tion ofhght is ca th plane of
of vibration , In the adjoinin g Fig. 4-8, A.BCD 18 e ,What \a Sa
Q• 19• J\Jll ~ Sa
vibration . . thro h the directio n of E~~r--li -....__
Plane of p,,larlsa tlon : The plane pass~g Can)'OII
ugll d the plane of Q, 1,o. ~n•• Yes.
• d · ·
propaga tion an contamm g °:0 . . v1bratton 1s ca e
e endicul artothe
polarisa tion . The plane ofpola.n 5 atlon •~ alway~ p rpof polarisa tion.
plane of vibratio n. In fig . 4 -8 , EFGHi s th e tane tated plane of where C
i=:·
JO In rotator y polarisa tion, which plane ro ,g. <\.~ rotatio~ -
. polarba f lb ti '>
ttlon or plane o v ra on •
An~. In rotatory polarisa tion, both plane O po1ath
f risation as well as plane of vibrati Q• l · What aa
1
0 n &.t~ ti;i
because both planes are perpend tc . ular to each o er. ¾ bat
11 What is rotator y disp~rs i~n ? oxirnately inversely proport ionalto the square of the
Ans : The angle ofrotatt on 1s appr 'W Q, lp-~s . p
\\rt\t
of light used. More precisely for quartz, we have
~, Wba
0 = A + B· • where A and B are constan ts. Q~
· ADS,
"Xi of composite (white) plane po1anse
Therefore when a beam . d Iigh t falls nol'tna\\ tube
Wh
quartz crystal, the'plane of polarisa tio~ of differen t colours (o~ wavele ngths) ~e
tot.a~ II\ Q, 14, An
different angles. Therefo re, the field of view appears coloure d. This phenom enon is Ca\\ca.
. . t~~ o\
poJansa tion. ~

2 • On what factors does the angles of rotatio n of the p 1ane o f • t' d su

po1arlsa ion _epend 'l 1.S, W
Ans : According to the experimentally observed fact that the angle of rotation of
the \ Q.
polarisation is directly proportional to the thickness of the c~stal, the ~av~le ngth ofligb. te~~\
and the nature of the optically active substances. For solutio ns rotatio n ~s also ~roport
iona\~\ Q. .
concentration and hence it is proportional to the number ~f molecu les m the line of sight. 16 1
\
. Does specific rotation depends upon the temperature , . Q. ,
Ans. Yes, Specific rotation depends on temperature. In so~e subs~c es_like turpentine, itde~ 11
with rise in temperature, while in others like quartz specific rotatio n mcreas es with
te\l\pen,~
• What is the unit of specific rotatio n ?
Q. lS.
Ans. The unit of specific rotation is degree/decimeter/gm/c.c. or degree/decimeter/kg
/rnl
What is the numerical value of specific rotatio n of cane sugar ~nllio l
Ans. Specific rotation of cane sugar solution in water at 20°C · + 66.5° Q. '1
What is the significance of plus sign in the above value of ecific rot
Ans. The plus sign indicates that the rotation is clockwise or rig t anded .
What will be the resultant rotation if a number of optically active substances are prtstu\\
a •oluti on?
Q
Ana : In that case, the net rotation will be equal to the algebraic sum of rotations ptoduced se\')an.\t.
by each individual substance.
What ii tbe practical utility or the measurement of this specific rotati on'?
Ult : It i~ extensively u~ed in s~gar factories for the estimation ofthe percen
tage of sugatin a~1'.
lution ID sugar factones. This method is also used to detennine the amount of sugar pttstn\l
e urine of a diabetic patient
"ii
ll~
4
: polarimeter 1.71
<:lf t NO·
e,cP.
I\ ~ t t, Saccbarlmeter ?
' \\'bll .
19. • saccbanmeter 1s the name f
1 o a Polarunet
Q, J\J1 ' determine the str
0 c11n you the strength fth engtb or the su er used for the analysis of sugar.
Q· i . .,vis, '[es, o e sugar soluti ;a., •olutlon '?
on 18 determined with the help of the following formula
8
C ==- v 100
l " -
~ re c is the strength (&tns of th S
<:l wbe. n of the substance, 8the a le substance present . 10 .r:
I\ tot8t1° ng e ofrotati . lll O c.c. of the solution) S the specu.lC
.-.1bat
YT ..
ls J]lolecular rotation ?• . ' .in d ec un·e•"'r
on tn degrees and l the l eng th of so1ution "' ·
Q, Z1· • 11te molecular rotation is th
tii, .,.ws • th t . 1 l e product of .
substance, a is_, mo ec~ ar rotation == specific r:pe~ific rotation and molecular weight of the
What is a polan?'eter ·. tation >< molecular weight of the substance.
Q, '.2~ polarimeter 1s a device used for th
V .i\JIS• f . . e measure
ele4 of the plane o po1ansation rotated by an opticalr;ient ~f optical rotation and the angle of rotation
t What are th~ main parts of a polarltneter ? Y active substance.
3
Q, Z .,.\JlS• The roam parts of a polarimeter are· a · .
tube broaden in the middle) kept betwe~n ! 01
anser, an analyser and a polarimeter tube (or glass
What are the functions of polariser and em.
Q• Z4, Ans , As 1t . . fr th . analyser ?
1s c 1ear om err names the p 1 . .
~· · • o anser 1s used to
~ d analyser is used to ana yse e ht co~vert an ordina li ht into \ane
1
~ d ~alf shade or bi-quartz devices. g transnutte t ough the optically active
What is the difference between polariser and \
Q Z5• • b . d'""- ana yser?
· ADS : There ts no as1c tu.erence between the polari d .
e, made of calcite crystals. They differ only in their user an analyser. Both are sunply nicol prisms
• ses.
0
~ If the polar1Ser and analyser are same devices can w int h
~ Q, 26· Ans : Yes, we can interchange both of them. ' e ere ange po\ar\ser and analyser'?

27 . What is a nicol prism ?

Q.Ans : William Nicol invented and constructed an optical devic d fr .
producing and an~l~s~g plane p?larised light.
1
e ma e om a ca Cl.te ccysta\ fot
!tin Q. 28, Is there any poss1b1hty of rotation of plane of polarisation of plane polarised \\gut, wu~n \t
passes through a nlc~l pris~ ? .
Ans, No, because the mcol pnsm 1s made of calcite crystal which is an optically inactive substance.
Q. 29, What is _the working principle of a nicol p~ism?
Ans : It 1s well known that, when an unpolansed beam enters the calcite crystal, it s-p\its up into
two plane polarised rays : O-ray and E-ray with vibrations in two mutually perpendicu\at -p\anes.
Ifby some optical means, we eliminate one of the two beams, then we wou\d obtain on\y one-p\me
Polarised beam. The nicol prism is designed in a such a way so as to eliminate the ordinary ny b
ta· total internal reflection. Hence only the extraordinary ray is transmitted through them.
Q, 30. What are ordinary and extra ordinary rays ?
n Ans : The ordinary (O-rays) and extra ordinary (E-rays) rays are p\ane l)O\arised rays ha: ·
vibrations perpendicular to each other. The ordinary ray obeys the ordinary \aws ot temcn
whereas an extra-ordinary ray behaves extra ordinarily and does not follows any \aws of tt ·
Q. 31. What do you mean by phenomenon of double refraction~ . .
i Ans. When an unpolarised beam of light enters in certain crystals, \ike ca\c\te ot quartz,\\
up into two plane polarised refracted beaim travelling in different directions. The -phen

l.,
 Engineering P
hy,,
1,72 C:\
. to two plane polarised rays : 0-ray and E ~t\
,phllut,i llf 11n unpoJaris~d bcam1:cs is called phenomenon of double refra;:.ay '.>ti~ ~ •
in ,,, o mutually perpendicular Pl I ls and crossed nlcols ? on. "'\ e"pt- t,10- "' •
Q••U . \\'hat do you nt<'llll by pariJlc '}:e analyser (one nicol) is parallel to that Or \ b t 11
.Ans, When tJ1c pnnc1pal sccuon ° rging from the polariser will be in the ~o\"ti Q• 35, "ill •.
ntt~ln, then Che vibrations of E-raY eme Analyser {A) Pf\t\c:1p~~1\~ J..O• •
~
➔ ~r'x
z~ xxPolariser (P)
t t tzt2V1 t ,,.-,.y
E-ray

(a)
,/).-.

t....--~
/ E '
6
Q,3 ·
.
~
~-~
0 -ray
Polariser (P)

Q, 31, l
0-ray (b)
Fig. 4 .9 bri
the analyser a11d hence £-ray fromP is freely transmitted by A juSt as it was freely t Q, 38. W
P subsequently the intensity of emergent light is tna."(UDUID, Hence when the Princi ranS\lii~
8
the polariser and analyser arc parallel, then nicols arc said to be parallel nicols [Fig Pal
49 ~ co
{)thcr hand when tl1c principal sections of polariser and analyser are at right angl. · (a)1.!\
. th th 'b ti e to c "I
no light emerges from tbe analyser because, m at case, e Vt ra ons of the E-ra), 1 ach~
dtC' polariser will be nonnal to the principal _se~tion of ~e analyser ~d hence to~~t~lllg\ 39
rctlC'cted JUSt as 0-ray. Hence, when the pnnctpal section of polanser is perpe d'y lll~~ Q, •
princip4l sc<'tion of analyser, the nicols are said to be crossed nicols [Fig. 4.9 (b icu\ar ~ )t
Q. 33, " 'hat ls principal plane ?
Ans: ·nie plane containing the optic axis and the ordinary ray is called principal plan 0 f th
ray. Similarly the plane containing the optic axis and extra-ordinary ray is called
oftl1e e.xtfa-ordinary ray.
0
th:Pl'lllcipaih
• ~ t%. Q, 4o.

Q. 34. \l'bat is the principal section ? Q. ,\1

Ans : A plane containing the optic axis of the crystal and perpendicular to two O s1•
t:atX's is called the principal s_ection of the c~stal for that pair of faces(Fig. 4. 1o5,: : re~
s1.x faces there are three sections corresponding to each pair of opposite faces. ' crystal\
Q.4.

D
Q.
Q.
C ~
' E .
Optic axis'
'
1 Optic ax,s
(a) Principal section (b)

Fig. 4.10
 1.73
,-o- • poS.ari~..er
A •
~ a u optic axis!
35- w--ai•: Jbe_optJC ~is ofa doubly :efi:a.~g ccystals is a direction along which all the plane wav~s
0- ~~~ with a Slll.~e v-e~tyv.ilhoUJ: showing the effect ofdouble refraction. Thus the optJc
~ is a ~ a n along-a. line ~ g through.any one ofthe bluo.t comers and making equal an?les
~ ·t}l eacb of tne three edges which meet there. Hence optic axis is not a line but it is a direction.
~ .,;.. ce ase-
'\~-o•' -
o.fhtlf shade device fn
shad d .
your experlm t,,,
- - en •
Q,, ;6- ~ : A half - e ence_ JS used Ul the experiment to judge the accurate position of complete
~ of the ;field of '\"Je'W._ The analyser is unable to detect the exact position of complete
~-ArneSS- V.'hci me -:1aly:ser ~ rotated th.rough some angle to detect the position of complete
.-"-- iield of v i ~ · rema1 ·
ns practically dark even after the analysing nicol has been rotated
OJLa-
._A-ne>S, l.U"- 0
~ - h :5 or 6' ne.ar the crossed position.
dlr3 ug - -~.r h d d . ·
jlo,ir d
oes the bx.u s a: e e\ ice Judge the accurate p •n
- di .d 0s1 on ?.
Q• 3-. US. Jialfshade de'\:ce vi es the field of,iew in two equal halves which are adjusted for equal
bPgt.mCSS or dadrn~ "\\'hen these halves are viewed simultaneously and side by side, the equal
-~-es.s or darlrnes:s
lb!ls::,....,... • of the two halves can be easilyJ·udg ed b y the eye.
\1,iere &Dd bow JS ~e h ~ shade ?e,·ice placed in the polarimeter ?
Q. 3'i- .._,UJ,5• Half shade d~,;"Ice 15 placed m ~tw~en the polariser and glass tube (polarimeter tube)
r;:unin:S- the so!ution under study. It IS adjusted by the manufacturer in such a position that the
:rtec diago~ of ~e nicol makes~ ~ an?1e With the optic axis of the quartz plate so that the
p1s:ne 0 fv1o.ra.non o .... tbe plane polansed light mcident on them makes small angles with the optic

Q. 39.
~:::-tis
~~
the- consa-nction of half shade device?
1£ consists o~tv. 0 semi-circular plates. One semi-circular plate is of ordinary glass, whereas
th other is of ca.late. Both are cemented together along the diameter. The quartz is a half plate,
. ~ noduces a path difference ofA12. The thickness ofthe glass plate is so chosen as to absorb and
it ~-t the same amount of light as the quartz plate.

4,0.
:1ist is me princl?1e of a. half-s~ade device used in your experiment?
See in the mam text of e.xpenment No. 4 (See article entitled "Action of Half-shade plate).
~ ; is an arrange.me~t of two crossed nic.ols not preferable in a polarimeter ?
.Jl. · = Beca"tt.Se. cross-rucols alone could not give accurate position of complete extinction (or
:ness) or equality of brightness. Therefore in order to increase the sensitiveness of the pair of
crossed ruools half shad device is used in the polarimeters .
.fl- \\lJl do ~ou use sodiu~ ~ght with ~alf shade de, ice ?
Alli: The halfshade de'-"lCC m the polanmeterprodu~s a path dlffercnce of')..,'2 (orpha.se difference
ofx ber-.-eeD: ardi!l.aryand extra-ordinary ra) s for a panic-ulan" a, elcngth ..tfor which 1tis designed.
Geoerall.> lht.S wa,eleogth is matched \\ilh the ,,"8velcngth of sodium D hne. Hence the use of
sodnun light 1s cecessazy.
~. Is ttJtre an) dnicie ~hkb cao ~ork ~ith '"hit~ lt&:bt?
ADS: Yes., bi.quartz deuce
44 .. '\\laat if the con1trucuoo a.nd '4orkln,: of• Bl-quartz dt\·ke?
Alls : B1..quartt dcv1oc co tsts of lWO scnuc:u-eul r plaks of left handed and right banded quartz
'\\1rich att ~mc.nted together~ fonn a cu'C'Ulv d ~ Each ofthe plate C'Ut perpendicular to the optic
u:15 and their lhickness :as ta.ken for \\ilich angle of rotauoo for yellow colour is 90°.
\\.fbc.n a beam of polarised romposite (o.r "1intc) light enters normally into the Bi-quartz
deuce,~ plane ofpolansanon for diffcn:nt\\-a,~lcngth (or colour) will be rotated through different
 .: ~------------:-= ~:::::.:--.. : .~
1.74
. Boc
Engineering Physics Pr"cti
b ti '
(l/~.2)]. Theo serva ans arc la'(
angles Ins Ois different for different wavelengths, that isre ) colour.
at the tint of passage or when two halves arc of same (g Y d Bf-quartz pobrimeter ?
Q. • What J!i the main difference lo th e workJ ng of baJC shade
45 an
and bi-quartz .
polanmeter . as ro11
1s 1
,.,,.
Ans . The maw difference in the workwg of half shade . ht ·s used and in it two halves ui e,,1 0
1 · used and ·,t.
• ht 1s
In the· half shade poJarimct~r, the monochromatic sodium Jig device,
. uartz white lig lll
piece appears of different 1Jlurrunahon, whereas m b1-<1
two halves m eye-piece appears of different colours.
Q. 46. Which fs superior out of haJf shade an dB1-qua . rtz
Ans. Bi-quartz polarimeter 1s superior over half-shade pol
. t rs ?
polarlltle
arimetere because it penmts . white Ji~
t f colours more accurately~
0
which is convenient to arrange and it is easier to judge the contras 0
then contrast of intensities. Hence it 1s more sensitive device. 't . e rotation ?
Q, 47. When white light i., used In Di-quartz, for which colour doesl~sg:lour which is absent rr..,.
Ans : The b1quartz gives the rotation for yellow colour, for it 18
the field of view m the setting of the analyser. . . Crom your experbneot,
Q. 48. Can you determine the direction ofrotation of plane of polarisation ·
f tation of P'"'- l
Ans: No. .
. . ofd'irection o ro
Q. 49. How wlll you modify yo ur experiment for the determmation ~,
polarised light ? th tali roduee.:
Ans: For this pwpose the experimenlal set up is modified msuch a waYthat e ro ;n P .
by two different lengths of a solution is studied. When 01s larger for longer lengilis, e chrectio~
of rotation will give the direction of the plane of polarisation.
Q. 50. What are uupolarised, polarised and plane polarised light ?
Ans, UnpoJarised light : In general ordinary light, having vibrations along all poss1?Ie Pla:1e
perpendicular to the direction of propagation is said to be unpolansed. Thus, the unpolansed :.g.1:,
is one which 1s symmetrical about its direction of propagation.
Polarised light : There is a lack of symmetry about the direction of propagation in the case of
polarised light. Thus the light which is asymmetrical about the direction of propagation is called
polarised light.
Plane polarised light : The light having vibrations only along a single dittction p,,pendicu)., to
the direction of propagation of light 1s said to be plane polansed ltght.
. SJ. How wUJ you get polarised light In your laboratory ?
Ans: In the labomlo,y, the polansed light can be produced by reflection, by refuoction orb)· double
refraction.