1. The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having
polarity.
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.
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.
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.
Po"lar*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polarized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Polarizing (?).] [Cf. F. polariser.] To communicate polarity to.
Po"lar*i`zer (?), 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.
Po"lar*y (?), a. Tending to a pole; having a direction toward a pole.
[R.] Sir T. Browne.
||Po`la`touche" (?), n. [F.] (Zoˆl.) A flying squirrel (Sciuropterus
||volans) native of Northern Europe and Siberia; -- called also minene.
Pol"der (?), n. [D.] A tract of low land reclaimed from the sea by of
high embankments. [Holland & Belgium]
Pold"way` (?), n. [Cf. Poledavy.] A kind of coarse bagging, -- used for
coal sacks. Weale.
Pole (?), n. [Cf. G. Pole a Pole, Polen Poland.] A native or inhabitant
of Poland; a Polander.
Pole, n. [As. pl, L. palus, akin to pangere to make fast. Cf. Pale a
stake, Pact.] 1. A long, slender piece of wood; a tall, slender piece
of timber; the stem of a small tree whose branches have been removed;
as, specifically: (a) A carriage pole, a wooden bar extending from the
front axle of a carriage between the wheel horses, by which the
carriage is guided and held back. (b) A flag pole, a pole on which a
flag is supported. (c) A Maypole. See Maypole. (d) A barber's pole, a
pole painted in stripes, used as a sign by barbers and hairdressers.
(e) A pole on which climbing beans, hops, or other vines, are trained.
2. A measuring stick; also, a measure of length equal to 5&?; yards, or
a square measure equal to 30&?; square yards; a rod; a perch. Bacon.
Pole bean (Bot.), any kind of bean which is customarily trained on
poles, as the scarlet runner or the Lima bean. -- Pole flounder
(Zoˆl.), a large deep-water flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus),
native of the northern coasts of Europe and America, and much esteemed
as a food fish; -- called also craig flounder, and pole fluke. -- Pole
lathe, a simple form of lathe, or a substitute for a lathe, in which
the work is turned by means of a cord passing around it, one end being
fastened to the treadle, and the other to an elastic pole above. --
Pole mast (Naut.), a mast formed from a single piece or from a single
tree. -- Pole of a lens (Opt.), the point where the principal axis
meets the surface. -- Pole plate (Arch.), a horizontal timber resting
on the tiebeams of a roof and receiving the ends of the rafters. It
differs from the plate in not resting on the wall.
Pole, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Poling.] 1. To
furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans or hops.