Question

Suppose you have a polarized light source in your lab that has an intensity of 1288 W/m2, where the electric field oscillates in the z direction. The light travels toward a workbench where you can send it through either one of two polarizing filters.
(a) If the light passes through a filter with its transmission axis at an angle of 45.0° from the z direction, what is the intensity of the transmitted light? W/m2

(b) If, instead, the light passes through a filter with its transmission axis at an angle of 90.0° from the z direction, what is the intensity of the transmitted light? W/m2

Answer 1

Answer:

644 W/m²

0 W/m²

Explanation:

$I_0$ = Initial intensity of light = 1288 W/m²

$\theta$ = Angle of filter

Intensity of light is given by

$I=I_0cos^2\theta\\\Rightarrow I=1288\times cos^2(45)\\\Rightarrow I=644\ W/m^2$

The intensity of the transmitted light is 644 W/m²

$I=I_0cos^2\theta\\\Rightarrow I=1288\times cos^2(90)\\\Rightarrow I=0\ W/m^2$

The intensity of the transmitted light is 0 W/m²