CHAPTER XXVI.
THE POLARIZATION OF LIGHT.
This branch of the phenomena of light includes some of the most remarkable and gorgeous chromatic effects; at the same time, regarded philosophically, it is certainly a most difficult subject to place in a purely elementary manner before the youthful minds of juvenile philosophers, and unless the previous chapter on the diffraction of light is carefully examined, the rationale of the illustrations of polarized light will hardly be appreciated. We have first to ask, "What is polarized light?" The answer requires us again to carry our thoughts back to the consideration of the undulatory theory of light, already illustrated and partly explained at [page 262], and [page 330].
After perusing this portion of the subject, it might be considered that waves of light were constituted of one motion only, and that an undulation might be either perpendicular or horizontal, according to circumstances. (Fig. 320.)
Fig. 320.
No. 1. A wire bent to represent a perpendicular vibration, which if kept in the latter position, will only pass through a perpendicular aperture.—No. 2. A wire bent to represent a horizontal wave which will only pass through a horizontal aperture.
This simple condition of the waves of light could not, however, be reconciled theoretically with the actual facts, and it is necessary in regarding a ray of light, to consider it as a combination of two vibrating motions, one of which, for the sake of simplicity, may be considered as perpendicular, and the other horizontal; and this idea of the nature of an undulation of light originated with the late Dr. Young, who while considering the results of Sir D. Brewster's researches on the laws of double refraction, first proposed the theory of transversal (cross-wise) vibration. Dr. Young illustrated his theory with a stretched cord, which if agitated or violently shaken perpendicularly, produces a wave that runs along the cord to the other end, and may be often seen illustrated on the banks of a river overhung with high bushes; the bargemen who drive the horses pulling the vessel by a rope, would be continually stopped by the stunted thick bushes, but directly they approach them, they give the horse a lash, and then violently agitate the rope vertically, which is thrown into waves that pass along the rope, and clear the bushes in the most perfect manner. (Fig. 321.)
