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Initially unpolarized light goes through two polarizers, first polarizer A and t

ID: 1449006 • Letter: I

Question

Initially unpolarized light goes through two polarizers, first polarizer A and then polarizer B. Both polarizers can be only oriented to an angle between 0 degree and 90 degree. The polarizer A is oriented at 22 degree from the vertical, and the polarizer B is oriented at 62 degree from the vertical. What percentage would be the light intensity in the region after the polarizer A and before the polarizer B compared with the intensity of the initial unpolarized light? % Find the intensity of the light after the polarizer B in terms of percentage compared with the intensity of the initial unpolarized light. %

Explanation / Answer

a)
1st polarizer will decrease the intensity by half and it will polarize light perpendicular to its axis
It will be 50% of the initial intensity
Answer: 50%

b)
Intial intensity be Io
Intensity after passing through A = Io/2

angle between A and B = 62-22 degree = 40 degree

for polariser B,
I = Io/2*cos ^2 (40)
= 0.293 Io
  
Answer: 29.3 %