n. Bipolar quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. dépolarisation. ] The act of depriving of polarity, or the result of such action; reduction to an unpolarized condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Depolarization of light (Opt.), a change in the plane of polarization of rays, especially by a crystalline medium, such that the light which had been extinguished by the analyzer reappears as if the polarization had been anulled. The word is inappropriate, as the ray does not return to the unpolarized condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Depolarized p. pr. & vb. n. Depolarizing. ] [ Pref. de- + polarize: cf. F. dépolarizer. ] 1. (Opt.) To deprive of polarity; to reduce to an unpolarized condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word has been inaccurately applied in optics to describe the effect of a polarizing medium, as a crystalline plate, in causing the reappearance of a ray, in consequence of a change in its plane of polarization, which previously to the change was intercepted by the analyzer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Elec.) To free from polarization, as the negative plate of the voltaic battery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Elec.) A substance used to prevent polarization, as upon the negative plate of a voltaic battery. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } adv. Not according to or in, the direction of the poles. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Polar. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a polary manner; with polarity. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Polar + -meter. ] (Opt.) An instrument for determining the amount of polarization of light, or the proportion of polarized light, in a partially polarized ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Opt.) The art or process of measuring the polarization of light. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Polar. ] (Astron.) The polestar. See North star, under North. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Polar + -scope. ] (Opt.) An instrument consisting essentially of a polarizer and an analyzer, used for polarizing light, and analyzing its properties. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Opt.) Of or pertaining to the polariscope; obtained by the use of a polariscope; as, polariscopic observations. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Opt.) The art or rocess of making observations with the polariscope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or exhibiting, poles; having a polar arrangement or disposition; arising from, or dependent upon, the possession of poles or polar characteristics; as, polaristic antagonism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. polarité. ] 1. (Physics) That quality or condition of a body in virtue of which it exhibits opposite, or contrasted, properties or powers, in opposite, or contrasted, parts or directions; or a condition giving rise to a contrast of properties corresponding to a contrast of positions, as, for example, attraction and repulsion in the opposite parts of a magnet, the dissimilar phenomena corresponding to the different sides of a polarized ray of light, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geom.) A property of the conic sections by virtue of which a given point determines a corresponding right line and a given right line determines a corresponding point. See Polar, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Susceptible of polarization. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. polarisation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Opt.) A peculiar affection or condition of the rays of light or heat, in consequence of which they exhibit different properties in different directions. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ If a beam of light, which has been reflected from a plate of unsilvered glass at an angle of about 56°, be received upon a second plate of glass similar to the former, and at the same angle of incidence, the light will be readily reflected when the two planes of incidence are parallel to each other, but will not be reflected when the two planes of incidence are perpendicular to each other. The light has, therefore, acquired new properties by reflection from the first plate of glass, and is called polarized light, while the modification which the light has experienced by this reflection is called polarization. The plane in which the beam of light is reflected from the first mirror is called the plane of polarization. The angle of polarization is the angle at which a beam of light must be reflected, in order that the polarization may be the most complete. The term polarization was derived from the theory of emission, and it was conceived that each luminous molecule has two poles analogous to the poles of a magnet; but this view is not now held. According to the undulatory theory, ordinary light is produced by vibrations transverse or perpendicular to the direction of the ray, and distributed as to show no distinction as to any particular direction. But when, by any means, these, vibrations are made to take place in one plane, the light is said to be plane polarized. If only a portion of the vibrations lie in one plane the ray is said to be partially polarized. Light may be polarized by several methods other than by reflection, as by refraction through most crystalline media, or by being transmitted obliquely through several plates of glass with parallel faces. If a beam of polarized light be transmitted through a crystal of quartz in the direction of its axis, the plane of polarization will be changed by an angle proportional to the thickness of the crystal. This phenomenon is called rotatory polarization. A beam of light reflected from a metallic surface, or from glass surfaces under certain peculiar conditions, acquires properties still more complex, its vibrations being no longer rectilinear, but circular, or elliptical. This phenomenon is called circular or elliptical polarization. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Elec.) An effect produced upon the plates of a voltaic battery, or the electrodes in an electrolytic cell, by the deposition upon them of the gases liberated by the action of the current. It is chiefly due to the hydrogen, and results in an increase of the resistance, and the setting up of an opposing electro-motive force, both of which tend materially to weaken the current of the battery, or that passing through the cell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Polarized p. pr. & vb. n. Polarizing ] [ Cf. F. polariser. ] To communicate polarity to. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physics) That which polarizes; especially, the part of a polariscope which receives and polarizes the light. It is usually a reflecting plate, or a plate of some crystal, as tourmaline, or a doubly refracting crystal. [ 1913 Webster ]

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n. [ Gr. &unr_; far off + E. polariscope. ] (Opt.) A polariscope arranged to be attached to a telescope. Lockyer. [ 1913 Webster ]