Q25E - University Physics with Modern Physics

Question

Unpolarized light with intensity ${\mathit{I}}_{\mathbf{o}}$ is incident on two polarizing filters. The axis of the first filter makes an angle of 60.0° with the vertical, and the axis of the second filter is horizontal. What is the intensity of the light after it has passed through the second filter?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The intensity of the light after passing the second filter

Step 1: Malus’ law

According to Malus' law, the intensity of plane-polarized light that travels through an analyzer varies as the square of the cosine of the angle between the plane of the polarizer and the analyzer’s transmission axes.

Step 2: Calculation

As

Value of 

So, by substitution for a second filter

Thus, the intensity of the light after passing the second filter