Why do fishermen need vertically polarized sunglasses?
a. They offer the best UV protection
b Reflections off water are horizontally polarized
c. Reflections off the water are vertically polarized
d. They like shaking their heads back and forth
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b. Reflections off water are horizontally polarized.
Fishermen, along with other people who spend time outdoors near water, use vertically polarized sunglasses to reduce glare and improve visibility. Here’s how it works: when sunlight hits the water, the light is reflected off the surface. The reflected light tends to become horizontally polarized, meaning that the light waves vibrate in a horizontal direction. This creates a strong, intense glare, especially on calm water surfaces. The glare can be distracting and make it difficult for fishermen to see beneath the water’s surface.
Polarized sunglasses are designed to filter out light waves that vibrate in a particular direction. By using vertically polarized lenses, the sunglasses block out the horizontally polarized light that causes glare. This results in a significant reduction in glare, allowing the fishermen to see more clearly into the water. This makes it easier to spot fish and other objects beneath the surface.
In contrast, vertically polarized lenses let light waves that are vertically polarized pass through, while blocking horizontal waves. As a result, fishermen can enjoy a clearer, less visually noisy experience, improving both their comfort and ability to catch fish.
In short, the primary benefit of vertically polarized sunglasses is that they block out the horizontally polarized light reflected from the water, which improves visibility and reduces eye strain. This is a crucial advantage when fishing, especially in bright conditions where water glare is most intense.