Question

linearly polarized light approaches a polaroid. the direction of the electric field is shown in pink. the light wave's amplitude before the polaroid is e0. will there be any transmitted light after the light interacts with the polaroid? if so, what is the amplitude of the transmitted light?

Answer 1

The amplitude of transmitted light after interacting with a Polaroid depends on the angle between the light's polarization direction and the Polaroid's axis, described by Malus's Law: amplitude post-Polaroid is E0 cos θ.

Step-by-step explanation:

When linearly polarized light approaches a Polaroid, only the component of the electric field parallel to the axis of the Polaroid is transmitted. This behavior is described by the Malus's Law, which states that the intensity I of the transmitted light is related to the incident light intensity I0 and the angle θ between the direction of polarization and the axis of the filter: I = I0 cos² θ. Therefore, if the amplitude of the electric field before the Polaroid is E0, the amplitude of the transmitted light will be E0 cos θ, depending on the angle between the light's polarization direction and the Polaroid's axis.