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6H30.40 Optical Rotation Through Corn Syrup

Courses: P4, P14, P16, P41, P47

White light, polarized and transmitted through corn syrup has each wavelength's polarization rotated by a different angle.

Setup: Use a white incandescent lamp. Hold a large sheet of polarizer film in a plastic frame (so it doesn't fall against the lamp and melt) and set it between the light and the container of corn syrup. You can use a jar of corn syrup, or the unmixing machine (which is filled with corn syrup). View the syrup container through another piece of polarizer film. As you rotate the film, the color will progress through the rainbow.