Unpolarized light of intensity 125 W/cm^2 is incident on a linear polarizer. Wha

Question

Unpolarized light of intensity 125 W/cm^2 is incident on a linear polarizer. What is the intensity of the light emerging from the polarizer? If the same unpolarized light falls on a stack of two linear polarizers whose polarization axes are perpendicular to each other, what is the intensity of the light emerging from the second polarizer? Justify your answer. If the same unpolarized light falls on a stack of three linear polarizers with their polarization axes oriented at 0 degree, 45 degree, and 90 degree (all measured in the same sense), what is the intensity of the light emerging from the third polarizer? If the same unpolarized light falls on a stack of four linear polarizers with their polarization axes oriented at 0 degree, 30 degree, 60 degree, and 90 degree (all measured in the same sense), what is the intensity of the light emerging from the fourth polarizer?

Explanation / Answer

a) Unpolarised light passes from polarizer then intensity of light remains half of the incident light (Io).

Intensity after one polarizer = I1 = Io/2 = 62.5 W/cm^2

b) Intensity after first polarizer = I1 = Io/2 = 62.5 W/cm^2

Intensity after second polarizer = I2 = I1*(cos90)^2 = 0

c) Intensity after first polarizer = I1 = Io/2 = 62.5 W/cm^2

Intensity after second polarizer = I2 = I1*(cos45)^2

    Intensity after third polarizer = I3 = I2*(cos45)^2 =  I1*(cos45)^4 = 15.625 W/cm^2

d) Intensity after first polarizer = I1 = Io/2 = 62.5 W/cm^2

Intensity after second polarizer = I2 = I1*(cos30)^2

    Intensity after third polarizer = I3 = I2*(cos30)^2 =  I1*(cos30)^4

   Intensity after fourth polarizer = I4 = I3*(cos30)^2 =  I1*(cos30)^6 = 26.37 W/cm^2

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse U
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.