Students' conceptions about polarized electromagnetic waves

A survey was conducted on students' conceptions about polarized electromagnetic waves. Three research methods were used, including written responses, drawings, and interviews based on a questionnaire. As a result, students were found to have alternative conceptions of a plane wave related to the basic concepts of linear polarization. There was also a tendency to link an invisible EM wave with a visible water wave or rope wave. Furthermore, although most students were able to calculate the intensities of waves transmitted through two linear polarizers with an arbitrary angle between the transmission axes, they did not distinguish the mechanical structures from the polarization axes. As such, a slit was equated with a polarizer due to its similar geometrical description. Accordingly, the current results suggest that instruction on polarization should be based on the interaction between matter and light.