Question

A polarized laser beam of intensity 285 W/m2 shines on an ideal polarizer. The angle between the polarization direction of the laser beam and the polarizing axis of the polarizer is 16.0 ∘. What is the intensity of the light that emerges from the polarizer?

Answer 1

The intensity is
`I_1 = 263.35 \ W/m^2`

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question we are told that

The intensity of the beam is
`I = 285\ W/m^2`

The angle is
`\theta = 16^o`

The intensity of the light that emerges from the polarizer is mathematically represented by Malus' law as

`I_1 = I * cos^2 (\theta )`

substituting values

`I_1 = 285 * [cos(16)]^2`

substituting values

`I_1 = 285 * [cos(16)]^2`

`I_1 = 263.35 \ W/m^2`