A beam of initially unpolarized light is sent through two...

Name: Problem 93, Chapter 33: Fundamentals of Physics
Uploaded: 2021-07-10T16:25:47-08:00
Duration: 2 min 15 s
Channel: Sheh Lit Chang
Description: A beam of initially unpolarized light is sent through two polarizing sheets placed one on top of the other. What must be the angle between the polarizing directions of the sheets if the intensity of the transmitted light is to be one-third the incident intensity?

A beam of initially unpolarized light is sent through two polarizing sheets placed one on top of the other. What must be the angle between the polarizing directions of the sheets if the intensity of the transmitted light is to be one-third the incident intensity?

Key Concepts

Intensity Reduction in Multiple Polarizers

When unpolarized light passes through multiple polarizers, the first polarizer reduces the intensity by a factor (typically one-half for unpolarized light), and subsequent polarizers further reduce the intensity according to Malus's Law. The overall transmission of light is determined by the cumulative effect of these reductions, which is critical in designing optical systems where a specific intensity level is required.

Malus's Law

Malus's Law quantifies the intensity of polarized light after passing through a polarizing filter at an angle. It states that the transmitted intensity is proportional to the cosine squared of the angle between the light's polarization direction and the axis of the polarizer. This law is fundamental when calculating the change in light intensity in systems with multiple polarizers.

Polarizers

Polarizers are optical devices that permit light waves of a certain polarization to pass through while absorbing or reflecting others. Their orientation determines the direction of polarization they allow, and when multiple polarizers are used in sequence, the relative angles between their transmission axes affect the overall intensity and polarization state of the transmitted light.

Unpolarized Light

Unpolarized light consists of electromagnetic waves vibrating in all possible planes perpendicular to the direction of propagation. When such light is incident on a polarizing filter, only the component of the electric field oscillating in the filter's transmission axis is allowed to pass, effectively reducing the light’s intensity and converting it to polarized light.

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