Final answer:
In the context of Malus's Law, plotting the relationship between the intensity of polarization and cos²θ will result in a parabolic curve, indicating the intensity is proportional to the square of the cosine of the angle. The intensity (I) is directly affected by the angle( θ) between the polarization direction and the filter's axis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Malus's Law
When discussing the relationship between the intensity of polarization (Ip) and cos²θ in Malus's Law, we examine how the intensity of light changes as it passes through a polarizing filter. According to Malus's Law, I = Io cos² θ, where I is the intensity of the transmitted wave, and Io is the intensity of the polarized wave before it passes through the filter. The angle (θ) is the one between the polarization direction and the filter's axis. Hence, if you plot this relationship, you should expect a parabolic curve, as intensity is proportional to the square of the cosine of the angle.
In the experiment, the independent variable would be the angle θ, and the dependent variable would be the intensity I. To measure these, one could use a polarizing filter and a photodetector aligned to detect the polarized light's intensity as the filter is rotated at various angles.
If the graph is plotted correctly, with the angle squared on the x-axis and the intensity on the y-axis, the graph will appear linear due to the cos² relation. In the context of the inverse square law, a straight-line plot suggests the law is upheld.