Timeline for Why is fresh asphalt polarized?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
14 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8, 2018 at 0:15 | comment | added | Spenser Truex | I am going to accept this answer because it resolved the misunderstanding that caused me to ask in the first place: that polarized light bounces off all surfaces, and it just happens that water and asphalt reflect a larger amount than some other surfaces like dirt. | |
| Aug 8, 2018 at 0:13 | vote | accept | Spenser Truex | ||
| Aug 3, 2018 at 1:44 | comment | added | Spenser Truex | I think not realizing that polarized light reflects off of all surfaces is a major reason for me asking this question. I just went out and looked at some of the surfaces in that paper with the sunglasses on, and I can definitely notice that not just fresh asphalt, but also older asphalt, and especially water reflecting polarized light. Even the wooden floors of my house were noticeable. It looks like I just never noticed that it was everywhere. | |
| Aug 3, 2018 at 0:21 | history | edited | Bill Alsept | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 82 characters in body
|
| Aug 2, 2018 at 23:53 | comment | added | Bill Alsept | @SpenserTruex The smoother the surface the more it is noticed. Fresh asphalt is smoother than old asphalt. Wet asphalt is smoother than dry asphalt. The surface of a planet from far away is smooth compared to up close. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 23:50 | comment | added | Spenser Truex | @Bill Alsept I don't think so. My question is about why fresh asphalt looks polarized. Finding out that some polarized light is reflected off of everything is interesting, but I don't think answers my question. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 23:49 | comment | added | Bill Alsept | @DanielSank polarized light reflecting off of dirt. web.gps.caltech.edu/~vijay/Papers/BRDF/chen-rao-68.pdf | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 23:47 | comment | added | Bill Alsept | @SpenserTruex Now you’re asking different questions. Here’s just one sample after googling only one time. web.gps.caltech.edu/~vijay/Papers/BRDF/chen-rao-68.pdf. Polarized light can reflect off of many surfaces including dirt. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 23:44 | comment | added | Spenser Truex | Okay, then why do I note more polarized light reflecting off a dark surface? Why doesn't a patch of white concrete scattering a lot more light look polarized? | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 23:10 | comment | added | Bill Alsept | @DanielSank yes it’s too bad you down voted because if the patch of dirt is big enough you would notice the reflection of polarized light like the surface of a planet looking at it from outer space. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 23:06 | comment | added | DanielSank | Reasoning by this answer, one would think that the light coming off of a patch of dirt should be polarized too. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 22:42 | comment | added | Bill Alsept | Light reflects off of most everything or else she wouldn’t be able to see you. As for why it becomes polarized there are many articles written about it. It is related to the angle of reflection and frequency etc. Just tried googling it. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 22:37 | comment | added | FGSUZ | Could you please elaborate a bit more your answer? Why does it reflect off? | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 22:27 | history | answered | Bill Alsept | CC BY-SA 4.0 |