Question

Only 35 % of the intensity of a polarized light wave passes through a polarizing filter. What is the angle between the electric field and the axis of the filter

Answer 1

Answer:

The angle between the electric field and the axis of the filter is 54⁰

Explanation:

Apply the equation for intensity of light through a polarizer.

$I = I_oCos^2 \theta$

where;

I is the intensity of the transmitted light

I₀ is the intensity of the incident light

θ is the incident angle

If only 35 % of the intensity of a polarized light wave passes through a polarizing filter, then the ratio of the intensity of the transmitted light to that of the intensity of the incident light is given by;

$\frac{I}{I_o} = Cos^2 \theta\\\\\frac{35}{100} = Cos^2 \theta\\\\Cos^2 \theta = 0.35\\\\Cos\theta = \sqrt{0.35} \\\\Cos\theta = 0.5916\\\\\theta = Cos^{-1}(0.5916)\\\\\theta = 54 ^0$

Therefore, the angle between the electric field and the axis of the filter is 54⁰