If two polarizers are oriented at 90 degrees to each other, what will be the intensity of light passing through them?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If two polarizers are oriented at 90 degrees to each other, what will be the intensity of light passing through them?
Maximum intensity
Half of the original intensity
Zero intensity
The same as the first polarizer
When two polarizers are oriented at 90 degrees to each other, no light can pass through, resulting in zero intensity.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: If two polarizers are oriented at 90 degrees to each other, what will be the intensity of light passing through them?
Solution: When two polarizers are oriented at 90 degrees to each other, no light can pass through, resulting in zero intensity.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what a polarizer does. A polarizer only allows light waves that are aligned in a certain direction to pass through.
Step 2: Know that when light passes through the first polarizer, it becomes polarized in the direction of that polarizer.
Step 3: Recognize that the second polarizer is oriented at 90 degrees to the first one. This means it is perpendicular to the direction of the polarized light from the first polarizer.
Step 4: Realize that since the light is polarized in one direction and the second polarizer is at 90 degrees, the light cannot pass through the second polarizer.
Step 5: Conclude that the intensity of light passing through both polarizers is zero.
