Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 34 - Electromagnetic Fields and Waves - Exercises and Problems - Page 1032: 64

Answer

The light intensity that emerges from the last filter is $~~0.33~I_0$

Work Step by Step

When unpolarized light passes through a polarizing filter, the intensity of the transmitted light is $0.5~I_0$ where $I_0$ is the original intensity. Thus the intensity is $I_1 = 0.5~I_0$ after passing through the first filter. We can find the intensity $I_7$ after passing through the remaining six polarizing filters: $I_7 = I_1~(cos^2~\theta)^6$ $I_7 = I_1~cos^{12}~\theta$ $I_7 = 0.5~I_0~cos^{12}~15^{\circ}$ $I_7 = 0.33~I_0$ The light intensity that emerges from the last filter is $~~0.33~I_0$
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