Light Passes Through Three Ideal Polarizing Sheets

question 59

Short Answer

Light passes through three ideal polarizing sheets. Unpolarized light enters the first sheet and the resultant vertically polarized beam continues through the second sheet and third sheet. The second sheet has its transmission axis at 50° with respect to the first sheet, and the third sheet is at 70° with respect to the first sheet.
(a) What percent of the original intensity emerges from filter #1?
(b) What percent of the original intensity emerges from filter #2?
(c) What percent of the original intensity emerges from filter #3?

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Definitions:

Electromagnetic Energy

Electromagnetic energy is a form of energy that is both electrical and magnetic and travels in waves, including visible light, X-rays, and radio waves.

Heat Energy

The form of energy that is transferred between substances or systems due to a temperature difference.

Ions

Atoms or molecules possessing a net electric charge resulting from the addition or removal of one or more electrons.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles located in the orbits around an atom's nucleus.