Question

Is moonlight polarized?

Answer 1

The electric and magnetic field vectors of the light wave can traverse in all directions. When the movement of these vectors along a special axis that is kept on a perpendicular plane to the direction of the motion of the light wave, is restricted to a single plane then the effect is called Polarization of light. There are two types of light we can see: polarized light and unpolarized light. Sunlight is unpolarized light.

Complete answer:
Ordinary light is an electromagnetic wave. The electric and magnetic field vectors of this type of wave are generally perpendicular to each other. When they are restricted to a single panel, then this phenomenon or system of the making of this restriction is known as polarization. And, after the polarization the ordinary light becomes polarized.
Now, the sunlight, candlelight, and electric bulb are ordinary light. Moonlight has similar properties as that of sunlight. But, the shift shown in the moonlight becomes a little towards the red. The sunlight is completely polarised whereas the moonlight can be said to be partially polarized. But, at the full moon, it is completely unpolarised.

Additional information:
Moonlight becomes polarized after striking the particles in the upper atmosphere when it moves towards the Earth. In the study, the researchers prove that the changes in the strength of the polarized light signal depend upon the phase of the moon. Polarized light that comes from a quarter moon is one-third and one-fifth as strong for a full moon and crescent moon respectively.

Note:
The electrons, ions, or other charged particles randomly vibrate inside the commonly known light sources such as sunlight, electric bulb, candlelight, etc. That’s why at any point of the path along the immersed rays from these sources have no particular direction of transverse vibrations. These sources are known as ordinary or unpolarized light sources. In this case, the transverse vibration can be denoted by the sum of the two equal perpendicular components of amplitude.