Suppose you have a polarized light source in your lab that has an intensity of 1

Question

Suppose you have a polarized light source in your lab that has an intensity of 1699 W/m2, where the electric field oscillates in the z direction. The light travels toward a workbench and encounters two polarizing filters.

(a) If the light passes first through a filter with its transmission axis at an angle of 45.0° from the z direction, and then through a filter with its transmission axis at an angle of 90.0° from the z direction, what is the final intensity of the transmitted light?

_____W/m2

(b) If, instead, the light passes first through a filter with its transmission axis at an angle of 90.0° from the z direction, and then through a filter with its transmission axis at an angle of 45.0° from the z direction, what is the final intensity of the transmitted light?

_____W/m2

Explanation / Answer

a)

From the malus law

I = Im*cos^2(theta)

I = 1699*cos^2(45) = 849.5 W/m^2

after passing through filter

I_final = 849.5*cos^2(0) =849.5 W/m^2

b) through first filter

I = Io*cos^(o) = 1699 W/m^2

through second filter is

I = Io*cos^(45) = 849.5 W/m^2

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