How Does the Angle of Polarizing Sheets Affect Transmitted Light Intensity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter phy112
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Intensity Light
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the intensity of transmitted light through a system of polarizing sheets. When unpolarized light of intensity I0 passes through the first polarizer, its intensity is reduced to 0.5I0. The introduction of a third polarizing sheet at 46° to the first alters the intensity further, requiring the use of the equation I = I0 cos²θ for accurate calculations. The confusion arises regarding the impact of the middle sheet on the overall intensity, particularly when it is removed, which results in zero intensity due to the orthogonal positioning of the first and second sheets. The thread emphasizes breaking down the problem into manageable steps to clarify the effects of each polarizer on light intensity.
phy112
Messages
37
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Two sheets of polarizing material are placed with their transmission axes at right angles to each other. A third polarizing sheet is placed between them with its transmission axis at 46° to the axis of the first one.

(a) If unpolarized light of intensity I0 is incident on the system, what is the intensity of the transmitted light?
X Io

(b) What is the intensity of the transmitted light when the middle sheet is removed?
X Io



Homework Equations



I=.5Io
I=Iocos2theta

The Attempt at a Solution



I am confused on what they want! (the answers are in X Io
 
Physics news on Phys.org
so i got b is zero(which is correct). is A the same?
 
No, A is different.

Break it up into single steps. You already know what the first polarizer does to intensity. Each addition polarizer transmission depends on it's angle relative to the previous polarizer.
 
i tried every thing and i can't figure it out. is there any more hints
 
Step 1:
What is the intensity after the 1st polarizer?
 

Thread 'Rolling without slipping on a curved surface'

Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
View full post »

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »

Similar threads

Effect of a polarizer/analyzer on partially polarized light
Replies
25
Views
3K
Graphing Power vs Polarizer Angle using Intensity
Replies
32
Views
2K
Why Does Unpolarized Light Lose Half Its Intensity Through a Polaroid?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Intensity of light passing through 3 polarizers
Replies
3
Views
6K
Find angle of polarizing sheet given original & transmitted intensity
Replies
4
Views
5K
Does light intensity change with two polarizing sheets?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Calculating Polarization Intensity: Theta Values of 45 and 25 Degrees Explained
Replies
3
Views
5K
Polarization of Light: Polarizer
Replies
7
Views
2K
Laser Spectroscopy: Calculating Transmitted Intensity
Replies
7
Views
1K
Understanding Malus Law and Polaroid Intensity: Conceptual Doubts
Replies
2
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top