optics.gif (6954 bytes)

POLARIZATION BY TRANSMISSION THROUGH A CALCITE CRYSTAL








EQUIPMENT
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Calcite Crystal
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Laser
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Overhead Transparency with a Dot or a Letter
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Polaroid Filters




NARRATIVE
            A calcite crystal will split an incoming beam of light into two beams of opposite polarity. There are two ways to perform this demonstration.

                    redball.gif (326 bytes)  Place the crystal on an overhead transparency which has a dot on it and rotate the crystal over this. You should be able to see two images of the dot. Then place a Polaroid filter over it and you can filter out one of the dots.

                    redball.gif (326 bytes)  Set up the laser and hold one of the crystals in front of the beam so that you get two beams on the screen. By rotating the crystal, you can show that one beam is stationary, while the other rotates around it.