Question

Two polaroids are placed at 90° to each other and the intensity of transmitted light is zero. What will be the intensity of transmitted light, when one or more polaroids is placed between these two bisecting the angle between them? Take intensity of unpolarised light as I₀.

Answer 1

The polaroid is placed bisecting the angle of 90° i.e. at 45°.

So intensity of emitted light is

I = I₀ cos 45° = \(\frac{I_0}{\sqrt2}\)

= 0.707 I₀.