Polarizer fun, was Re: Color perception, was Re: human tetrachromate mutant reported

From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Fri Dec 01 2000 - 12:26:13 MST


Yes, I've thought about the possibility of the two sheets not having
identical orientation. But it is also possible the light coming off the
objects is differently polarized in different directions, no? The
parallax of polarization, as it were. Blink comparison left-right does
clearly show me I'm getting different apparent reflection.

The test would appear to be to get a big sheet of Polaroid and hold it
flat while I look at such an object with both eyes. Even if it is
attributable to "mis" orientation, I think it's cool and I bet the
information has value.

hal@finney.org wrote:
>
> Michael M. Butler, <butler@comp-lib.org>, writes:
> > I also sometimes notice additional information from wearing polarized
> > sunglasses. A leaf on the ground will appear to have a peculiar
> > glistening sheen. I should research this some more.
>
> This is probably caused by the two polarizing lenses being slightly
> misaligned. Glancing reflected light tends to be polarized, and so
> if the two eyes have polarizers with different orientations then the
> relative brightness between the leaf and the ground will be different
> with your two eyes. Your brain is apparently presenting this oddity as
> a peculiar sheen.



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