⚗ POLARIMETER EXPERIMENT 3D

SELECT COMPOUND / ACTIVITY

SYSTEM STATUS

Compound State: Optically Active

Rotation Direction: Clockwise (+)

Optical Rotation (α): +40.0°

VIEW CONTROLS

• Left mouse : Rotate

• Right mouse : Pan

• Scroll wheel : Zoom

SHOW / HIDE

Show Labels Show Light Waves Show Polarization Planes Show Optical Axis

OPTICAL ACTIVITY

Dextrorotatory (+) : Rotates plane clockwise (right)

Laevorotatory (−) : Rotates plane anticlockwise (left)

Optically Inactive : No rotation

💡 TIPS

Plane-polarized light gets rotated when passing through an optically active substance.

Drag the 3D model to inspect every part of the setup.

LEGEND — PARTS DESCRIPTION

1 Light Source (Bulb): Emits ordinary/unpolarized light

2 Ordinary Light (Unpolarized): Vibrations in many planes

3 Nicol Prism (Polarizer): Produces plane-polarized light

4 Plane-Polarized Light: Vibrates in one plane only

5 Sample Tube: Contains optically active solution

6 Rotated Plane-Polarized Light

7 Nicol Prism (Analyzer): Detects the rotated plane

8 Observer / Eyepiece: Reads the angular setting

THREE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

DEXTROROTATORY (+)
Clockwise rotation

LAEVOROTATORY (−)
Anticlockwise rotation

OPTICALLY INACTIVE
No rotation

OPTICAL ROTATION (α)

Angle between the original and rotated planes of polarization.

Measured in degrees (°).

Current Rotation (α) = +40.0° (Clockwise)