Question

You shine unpolarized light with intensity 54.0 W/m^2 on an ideal polarizer, and then the light that emerges from this polarizer falls on a second ideal polarizer. The light that emerges from the second polarizer has intensity 19.0 W/m^2. Find the angle between the polarizing axes of the two polarizers.°

Answer 1

The angle between the polarizing axes of the two polarizers is 54°

Step-by-step explanation:

Given;

intensity of unpolarized light, I₀ = 54.0 W/m²

intensity of light that emerges from second ideal polarizer, I₁ = 19.0 W/m²

The angle between the polarizing axes of the two polarizers is dtermined by applying Malus' law for intensity of a linearly polarized light passing through a polarizer.

I₁ = I₀Cos²θ

Cos²θ = I₁ / I₀

Cos²θ = 19 / 54

Cos²θ =0.3519

Cos θ = √0.3519

Cos θ = 0.5932

θ = Cos⁻¹(0.5932)

θ = 53.6°

θ = 54°

Therefore, the angle between the polarizing axes of the two polarizers is 54°