Polarization Filters Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: Unpolarized light of intensity 30 W/cm2 is incident on a linear polarizer set at the polarizing angle θ1 = 23°. The emerging light then passes through a second polarizer that is set at the polarizing angle θ2 = 144°. Note that both polarizing angles are measured from the vertical. What is the intensity of the light that emerges from the second polarizer?

###### FREE Expert Solution

Intensity:

$\overline{){\mathbf{I}}{\mathbf{=}}{{\mathbf{I}}}_{{\mathbf{0}}}{\mathbf{c}}{\mathbf{o}}{{\mathbf{s}}}^{{\mathbf{2}}}{\mathbf{\theta }}}$

After passing through the first polarizer, the intensity of light is:

I1 = I/2 = 30/2 = 15 W/cm2

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###### Problem Details

Unpolarized light of intensity 30 W/cm2 is incident on a linear polarizer set at the polarizing angle θ1 = 23°. The emerging light then passes through a second polarizer that is set at the polarizing angle θ2 = 144°. Note that both polarizing angles are measured from the vertical. What is the intensity of the light that emerges from the second polarizer?