Question

Light incident on a polarizer is then passed through a second polarizer. If the polarizer and the analyzer are perpendicular to each other, what can you say about the light waves emerging from the second polarizer? A. The light waves are partially blocked. B. The light waves are completely blocked. C. The light waves are of the same intensity as the incident light. D. The light waves have three times the intensity of the incident light. E. The light waves have half the intensity of the incident light.

Answer 1

If the polarizer and analyzer are perpendicular to each other, then no light can pass through the second polarizer. This is because the polarizers are designed to only allow light waves that are oscillating in a particular direction to pass through, and when they are perpendicular to each other, there are no such waves that can pass through. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The light waves are completely blocked.