An unpolarized light beam traveling along the x-axis is sent into a system of th

Question

An unpolarized light beam traveling along the x-axis is sent into a system of three polarizers. The polarization axis of the first polarizer makes an angle of 15.4 degrees (measured clockwise) with the y axis. The polarization axis of the second polarizer makes a 32.6 degree angle (measured clockwise) with the y axis and the third polarizer's axis makes an angle of theta degrees (measured clockwise) with the polarization axis of the second polarizer. The light emerging from the third polarizer is 0.11of the intensity of the original unpolarized light. What is the measure of angle theta (measured clockwise) from the y-axis? Give your answer in the form "ab.c" degrees.

Explanation / Answer

Draw a diagram - essential.
Mark the 1st vector going from the origin to (1.8, 3.2).
Mark the 2nd vector going from the origin to (-2.1, 1.8)

1. From the diagram you should see tan(theta) = 3.2/1.8
theta = atan(1.778) = 60.6degrees

2. From the diagram you should see that if we measure the angle to the -ve x-axis
tan(theta) = 1.80/2.10 = 0.857
theta = atan(0.857) = 40.6degrees.
From the diagram, the angle to the positive x-axis is 180-40.6 = 139.4degrees

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