GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Isotropic materials have symmetry in all directions and the refractive index is the same for any polarization direction. An anisotropic material is called “birefringent” because it will generally refract a single incoming ray in two directions, which we now understand correspond to the two different polarizations.

Detailed explanation-2: -Isotropic materials are materials whose properties remain the same when tested in different directions. Isotropic materials differ from anisotropic materials, which display varying properties when tested in different directions. Common isotropic materials include glass, plastics, and metals.

Detailed explanation-3: -The refractive index of an anisotropic medium varies as =0√x+1, where 0≤x≤a. A ray of light is incident at the origin just along the y-axis (shown in figure).

Detailed explanation-4: -In amorphous solids, no long-range order exist so the given properties such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, refractive index are identical in all directions and they are isotropic in nature.