Question

You simultaneously shine two light beams, each of intensity I0, on an ideal polarizer. One beam is unpolarized, and the other beam is polarized at an angle of exactly 30.0∘ to the polarizing axis of the polarizer. Find the intensity of the light that emerges from the polarizer. Express your answer in term of I0 .

Answer 1

Answer:

The emerging intensity is equal to 0.75$I_{o}$

Explanation:

The initial intensity of the light = $I_{o}$

The angle of polarization β = 30°

We know that the polarized light intensity is related to the initial light intensity by

$I$ = $I_{0} cos^{2}\beta$

where $I$ is the emerging polarized light intensity

inserting values gives

$I$ = $I_{0} cos^{2}$ 30°

$cos^{2}$ 30° = $(cos 30)^{2}$ = $(\frac{\sqrt{3} }{2} )^{2}$ = 0.75

$I$ = 0.75$I_{o}$