Question

A beam of unpolarised light of intensity $I_0$ is passed through a polaroid $A$ and then through another polaroid $B$ which is oriented so that its principal plane makes an angle of ${45}^o$ relative to that of $A$. The intensity of the emergent light is:

• A. $I_0/2$
• B. $I_0/4$
• C. $I_0/8$
• D. $I_0$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

$I_0/4$

$I\alpha A^2$ where $A$ is the amplitude and $I$ is the intensity

For unpolarised light, it can be resolved into two components of equal magnitude in any pair of perpendicular directions. So the amplitude that is along the plane of polarisation of the polaroid will always be $\frac{A}{\sqrt{2}}$

So, the intensity which will pass through it will always be $\frac{I_0}{2}$

Now when this polarised light falls on polaroid B whose plane of polarisation makes an angle $\theta$ with the plane of polarisation of incident light, the component of amplitude along the plane of polarisation of the polaroid is $Acos\theta$.

Therefore, intensity of light that passes through is $I_{i}co{s}^2\theta$ where $I_i$ is the intensity of incident light.

Here, $I_i=\frac{I_0}{2}$ and $\theta ={45}^{\circ }$

So intensity of light emerging through B is

$\frac{I_0}{2}\times \frac{1}{2}=\frac{I_0}{4}$