Question

Light that is polarized along the vertical direction is incident on a sheet of polarizing material. Only 89% of the intensity of the light passes through the sheet and strikes a second sheet of polarizing material. No light passes through the second sheet. What angle does the transmission axis of the second sheet make with the vertical axis?

Answer 1

`\theta = 109.4 degree`

Step-by-step explanation:

As per Law of Malus we know that the intensity of polarized light is given as

`I = I_o cos^2\theta`

here we know that

`I = 0.89 I_o`

now we have

`0.89I_o = I_o cos^2\theta`

`cos\theta = \sqrt(0.89)`

`\theta = 19.4 degree`

now this polarized light when passing through other polarizer then no light is passing through it so it must be perpendicular to the first polarizer

so the angle of the pas axis of second polarizer with vertical is given as

`\theta = 19.4 + 90`

`\theta = 109.4 degree`