Brewster's law

American  

[broo-sterz law] / ˈbru stərz ˈlɔ /

noun

Optics.

1. the law that light will receive maximum polarization from a reflecting surface when it is incident to the surface at an angle angle of polarization, or polarizing angle having a tangent equal to the index of refraction of the surface.

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Etymology

Origin of Brewster's law

First recorded in 1825–30; named after Sir David Brewster (1781–1868), Scottish physicist

Example Sentences

This equation is known as Brewster’s law, and θb is known as Brewster’s angle, named after the 19th-century Scottish physicist who discovered them.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015