EQUIPMENT: Two Polarizers (appear like gray plastic) and Plastic Film
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LOOK THROUGH ONE POLARIZER
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Find some shiny surfaces and look at them through one of the
polarizers held in front of your eye. While you continue to look
through, turn the polarizer clockwise (like a steering wheel) one full
turn.
1) Describe an, changes in the wag the surface looks as the polarizer
is turned.
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Place the second polarizer on top of the first one (like making a sandwich) and look through them. Turn one of the polarizers a full turn clockwise while you are looking through.
2) Describe what happens as the polarizer is turned. Adjust the polarizers to a position where you cannot see through them. Without changing their positions, put a piece of stretchable plastic between the two sheets. While you look through the sheets, have someone pull on the ends of the plastic to make it stretch.
3) Describe what you observed.
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HOW IS THIS USEFUL?
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Polarizers are used in some sunglasses to cut down the light seen from reflected surfaces. They are also used by engineers studying plastic models of buildings and machine parts to discover any weaknesses in design before the real thing is built.
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