# Vertically polarized light from a hene laser passes through a linear

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

1. Vertically polarized light from a helium neon laser passes through a linear polarizer with its axis of polarization oriented 15° from the vertical axis. Assuming no absorption or reflection:
(a) What percentage of the light will be transmitted?
(b) What will be the polarization angle of the transmitted light?

2. In question #1, if a second polarizer is placed in the beam after the first polarizer with its axis oriented at 45° from the vertical axis:
(a) How much light is transmitted?
(b) What will be the polarization angle of the transmitted light?

2. Relevant equations
I believe that Malus’s Law applies for Q1: I = Iocos^2 $\theta$i

3. The attempt at a solution
Q1(a+b): I = Io cos^2 (15°) = Io 0.9330 = 93.3% Io at 15°

Q2(a): Second polarizer uses same formula except that only 93.3% of incident light has gotten through resulting in following change:
I = .933 Io cos^2 (45°) = .933 (0.5) Io = 0.4665 Io at 30° (45-15)

I don’t have a lot of confidence in the answer to Q2.

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