What is the Difference Between Plane Polarized Light and Ordinary Light?

05/15/2025 • Giovanni Medeiros

The main difference between plane polarized light and ordinary (or unpolarized) light lies in the direction of oscillation of the light waves. Here are the key differences:

Plane Polarized Light:
Vibrations occur in a single plane only.
Oscillations are in one direction only.
Constant phase difference between the electric field components.
Can be produced by passing unpolarized light through a polarizer or an organic filter.
Ordinary Light:
Vibrations occur in random directions.
Oscillations are in random directions.
Phase difference changes unpredictably.
Light source includes sunlight and other sources of natural light.

In summary, plane polarized light has its vibrations occurring within them in a single plane, whereas ordinary light has vibrations occurring within them at random angles without any plane.

Comparative Table: Plane Polarized Light vs Ordinary Light

The main difference between plane polarized light and ordinary light lies in the direction of their oscillations. Here is a table comparing the two types of light:

Property	Plane Polarized Light	Ordinary Light
Definition	A type of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with vibrations that take place only in one plane.	Ordinary light, also known as unpolarized light, is an EMR in which all of the light waves oscillate in different directions.
Direction of Oscillation	Occurs in one direction only.	Occurs in random directions.
Phase Difference	The constant phase difference between the electric and magnetic field components.	Phase difference changes unpredictably.
Light Source	A polarization filter's output of light waves.	Sunlight and other sources of natural light.

In summary, plane polarized light has its vibrations occurring within a single plane, while ordinary light has vibrations occurring at random angles without any specific plane.