Unpolarized light and Polarizers

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The discussion focuses on the behavior of unpolarized light passing through two polarizing filters. The first filter is set at an angle of θ1 = 80 degrees from the y-axis, while the second filter is at θ2 = 65 degrees. The correct formula to determine the final intensity of light after passing through both filters is I2 = I0 * 0.5 * cos²(θ1) * cos²(θ2 - θ1). The user struggles with applying this formula correctly, particularly in understanding the effect of the first polarizer on unpolarized light.

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Unpolarized light propagating along the x-axis from the left in the image above encounters two polarizing filters in a row. The first filter is oriented with its polarization axis at θ1 = 80 degrees from the y-axis, and the second is oriented with its polarization axis at θ2 = 65 degrees from the y-axis. What is the final intensity of the light as a fraction of the original (pre-filter) intensity?

Ive tried doing this problem in every conceivable way possible and I can't get it right.

Please help! I know you have to use a variation of I2=I0*cos^2(theta1) *cos^2(theta2-theta1), but this isn't correct, so what am I doing wrong?

Thanks!
 
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Since the light is initially unpolarized, what is the effect of the first polarizer?
 

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