The light beam in the fi gure passes through a polarizer

Chapter , Problem 65

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The light beam in the fi gure passes through a polarizer whose transmission axis makes an angle f with the vertical. The beam is partially polarized and partially unpolarized, and the average intensity S0 of the incident light is the sum of the average intensity S0, polar of the polarized light and the average intensity S0, unpolar of the unpolarized light; S0 5 S0, polar 1 S0, unpolar. The intensity S of the transmitted light is also the sum of two parts: S 5 Spolar 1 Sunpolar. As the polarizer is rotated clockwise, the intensity of the transmitted light has a minimum value of S 5 2.0 W/m2 when f 5 20.0 and has a maximum value of S 5 8.0 W/m2 when the angle is f 5 fmax. Concepts: (i) How is Sunpolar related to S0, unpolar? (ii) How is Spolar related to S0, polar? (iii) The minimum transmitted intensity is 2.0 W/m2 . Why isnt it 0 W/m2 ? Calculations: (a) What is the intensity S0, unpolar of the incident light that is unpolarized? (b) What is the intensity S0, polar of the incident light that is polarized?