Question

Plane-polarized light is incident on a single polarizing disk, with the direction of E0 parallel to the direction of the transmission axis. Through what angle should the disk be rotated so that the intensity in the transmitted beam is reduced by a factor of 6.00?

Answer 1

Answer: $65.9^{\circ}$

Explanation:

Given

Intensity must be reduced by a factor of 6

Intensity is given by $I=I_o\cos ^2\theta$

Substitute $I$ by $\frac{I_o}{6}$

$\Rightarrow \dfrac{I_o}{6}=I_o\cos ^2\theta\\\\\Rightarrow \cos^2\theta =\dfrac{1}{6}\\\\\Rightarrow \cos \theta=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{6}}\\\\\Rightarrow \theta=65.9^{\circ}$

So, the disk must be rotated by an angle of $65.9^{\circ}$ .