Question

Unpolarized light of intensity

I 0, is made to pass through three polarizers P1, P2and P3 successively. The polarization

axis of P2 makes an angle of θ1 with that of P1 while that of P3 makes an angle θ2 with that of the P2

. What will be the intensity oflight coming out of P3

?​

Answer 1

$\huge\star\mathfrak\red{{Answer:-}}$

Solution:

The first polarizer, P1 will polarize

the incident unpolarized light. The intensity

after passing through this polarizer will beI1cos= I 0 /2 as discussed above. Let us assume that the amplitude of the electric field after passing through P1is E10. While passing through P2

, a component of the electric field, E20 = E10 cosθ1 will be able to pass through. Thus, the intensity of light coming out of P2will be

I2= (I1cos2θ1 ) = ( c I os ) 021 θ /2.

While passing through P3, a component E30 = E20 cosθ2 will pass through. Thus, the intensity of light coming out of P3 will be I3

=( c I os cos ) 02122 θ θ /2