In Fig. 33.31, since the light that is scattered out of the incident beam is polarized, why is the transmitted beam not also partially polarized?

fig.33.31

Transcribed Image Text:

Incident white light, y unpolarized *- Electric charges in air molecules at O oscillate in the direction of the E field of the incident light from the sun, acting as antennas that produce scattered light. The scattered light that reaches the observer directly below O is polarized in the z-direction. Air molecules scatter blue light more effectively than red light; we see the sky overhead by scattered light, so it looks blue. This observer sees reddened sunlight because most of the blue light has been scattered out.