- #1
fred3142
- 22
- 0
Hi,
I'm struggling to conceptually understand why Brewster's angle occurs. I know Fresnel's equations and can see that at some angle, the reflected parallel component goes to zero. What I don't understand is why this is conceptually happening. I understand that the material is made up of 'dipoles' and free charges which can absorb and deflect the wave, but I cannot see why the perpendicular component is not treated the same way as the parallel component. I don't see how they appear any differently to the material. If someone could provide some insight into this, that would be great.
Thank you.
I'm struggling to conceptually understand why Brewster's angle occurs. I know Fresnel's equations and can see that at some angle, the reflected parallel component goes to zero. What I don't understand is why this is conceptually happening. I understand that the material is made up of 'dipoles' and free charges which can absorb and deflect the wave, but I cannot see why the perpendicular component is not treated the same way as the parallel component. I don't see how they appear any differently to the material. If someone could provide some insight into this, that would be great.
Thank you.