Question

a vertically polarized light is sent through two polarizers. the first polarizer makes an angle of 30 clockwise with the original direction of polarization of the light. the second polarizer makes an angle of 20 degrees counterclockwise from the vertical. what fraction of the original polarized intensity gets through the second polarizer?

a. 0.66

b. 0.44

c. 0.21

d. 0.31

e. 0.56

Answer 1

Here,

as the light is initially vertically polaizd

for the angle between axes of polarizers

theta = 30 + 20 = 50 degree

Now, for the output intensity

Iout/Iin =cos^2(theta1) * cos^2(theta)

Iout/Iin =cos^2(30) * cos^2(50 degree)

Iout/Iin = 0.31

the fraction of the original polarized intensity gets through the second polarizer is d) 0.31