A low-cost polarimeter for an undergraduate laboratory to study the polarization pattern of skylight

dc.contributor.author	Abayaratne, C. P.
dc.contributor.author	Bandara, V.
dc.date.accessioned	2018-12-19T03:21:16Z
dc.date.available	2018-12-19T03:21:16Z
dc.date.issued	2017
dc.identifier.citation	Abayaratne, C. P., Bandara, V., (2017)."A low-cost polarimeter for an undergraduate laboratory to study the polarization pattern of skylight",Am. J. Phys. 85, 232, American Association of Physics Teachers	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/7866
dc.description.abstract	attached	en_US
dc.description.abstract	A simple, low-cost, fully automated polarimeter, which demonstrates fundamental properties of skylight scattering and polarization for undergraduate physics students, is described. The polarimeter includes a microprocessor-based control unit, a Sun tracker, an elevation-azimuth mount with two degrees of freedom, and a polarization sensor unit equipped with a light-dependent resistor for measuring light intensity. Results obtained in the principal plane of the Sun using the polarimeter on a relatively clear day, together with the theoretically expected results for a molecular atmosphere, are presented. A root-mean-square error comparison indicates fairly good agreement between theory and experiment. Construction and experimentation with the polarimeter will provide students with insight into important physical concepts involved in skylight scattering and polarization as well as improve their instrumentation capabilities.
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.title	A low-cost polarimeter for an undergraduate laboratory to study the polarization pattern of skylight	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US