DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : J Srinivasa Rao
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : D.A.E.I.E
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic, Kothagudem
Year/Semester : VI Sem
Subject : Analytical Instrumentation
Subject Code : AEI-603
Topic : Analysers
Duration : 100 Min
Sub Topic : Polarimeter
Teaching Aids : PPT, Pictures
AEI-603.19 To 20 1
 Objectives

On completion of this period you will be able

to know about

• Principle

• Construction and Working

• Applications of Polarimeter

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 Recap

In the previous topic we have studied about

• Principle of Interference

• Interferometer

Now we are going to learn about polarimeter.

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 Principle

• Polarimetry is the measurement of change in the

direction of vibration of polarized light when it interacts

with optically active materials.

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POLARIMETER

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Polarization principle animation

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 Construction and Working
The polarimeter consists of the following basic parts:

• A light source

• A polarizer

• An analyzer

• A graduated circle to measure the amount of rotation

• Sample tubes

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 Light source:

• The most common light sources for polarimeter

are sodium vapor lamps and mercury vapor
lamps.
• Sodium Vapour lamp emits 589 .1 nm
• Mercury Vapour lamp emits 579 .1 nm

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 Polarizer (Analyzer):
• The polarizer consists of a crystal, usually calcite or
quartz cut diagonally at such an angle that one
component of the light is totally reflected.
• The second component passes through the second half
of the crystal and thus emerges, going in the same
direction as the original beam.
• The two halves of the prism are cemented together.
• Consists of a crystal, i.e. calcite or quartz
• They are cemented together

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• The GlanThompson prism and the Nichol Prism are the
common prisms used as polarizer’s (analyzers).

• Intensity of the light transmitted through the combination

is given by
I = KI0Cos2θ

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Where
• I = Emerging intensity from analyzer

• I0 = incident intensity on analyzer

• θ = angle between the directions of transmission of the

two prisms.

• K = Constant of absorption and reflection (approx=1)

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 Graduated circle:

• A graduated circle is fitted with a vernier for precise

measurement of the angle through which the analyzing

prism can be rotated.

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 Sample tube:

• The polar meter tube must be free from strain, otherwise

it will produce circular polarization of light. Hence each
tube should be tested by filling it with water, placing
between crossed prisms and noting whether dark field
remains dark.
• Free from stain
• To avoid circular polarization
• Test it by filling pure water

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 APPLICATIONS:

• For analysis of sugars.

• To analyze sucrose.

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 Summary
• Polarimetry is the measurement of change in the
direction of vibration of polarized light when it
interacts with optically active materials.

• The polarimeter consists of the following basic

parts:
• A light source,
• A polarizer ,
• Analyzer

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 Quiz
1) Polarimetry is the measurement of
a) Vibration of Reflected Light
b) Vibration of Refracted Light
c) Polarized light
d) None of the above

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The light sources used for polarimeter are
• Deuterium Lamp
• Tungsten Lamp
• Sodium Vapor Lamp
• All of the above

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1) Explain the principle construction and working of

a Polarimeter.

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