At a beach the light is generally partially polarized due to reflections off san

Question

At a beach the light is generally partially polarized due to reflections off sand and water. At a particular beach on a particular day near sundown, the horizontal component of the electric field vector is 2.3 times the vertical component. A standing sunbather puts on polarizing sunglasses; the glasses eliminate the horizontal field component. What fraction of the light intensity received before the glasses were put on now reaches the sunbather's eyes? The sunbather, still wearing the glasses, lies on his side. What fraction of the light intensity received before the glasses were put on now reaches his eyes?

Explanation / Answer

(a)

I^2 = Ix^2 + Iy^2,

letting Ix = 2Io and Iy = Io

gives I = rt(5)Io.

If the Ix field is cancelled,

I' = Io so I'/I = 1/rt(5)

(b)

Now you have 2/rt(5) by the same argument above with Iy being cancelled instead.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

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