Vertically polarized light that has an intensity of 450 W/m^2 is incident on two
ID: 1444610 • Letter: V
Question
Vertically polarized light that has an intensity of 450 W/m^2 is incident on two polarizing filters. The first filter is oriented 30degree from the vertical while the second filter is oriented 75degree from the vertical. Predict the intensity and polarization of the light that emerges from the second filter. (Assume both angles are measured in the same direction with respect to the vertical.) Vertically polarized light (I_0 = 450 w/m^2) is passed through two polarizing filters. The first is oriented at an angle of 30 degrees relative to the vertical, and the second is oriented at an angle of 75 degrees relative to the vertical. We can use I_2 = I_0 cos^2 (theta) in succession to determine the final intensity and polarization of the light after passing through the two filters. Remember that theta is the angle between the polarization axis of the light and the polarization axis of the filter, which is not necessarily the same as the angle the filter makes with the vertical.Explanation / Answer
Intensity of unpolarized light is multiplied by 0.5 by the 1st polarizer.
Subsequent polarizers multiply intensity by cos(theta)^2, where theta is the angle between previous and current polarizer.
Thus I = 4.5*0.5*cos(45d)^2 = 1.125 W/cm^2.
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