Unpolarised light of wavelength is incident from air on a glass surface of refractive…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Waves Sound and Physical Optics · Waves Sound and Physical Optics
Problem
Unpolarised light of wavelength 589nm is incident from air on a glass surface of refractive index 1.52. The light reflected from the surface is analysed with a Polaroid sheet.
(a) Calculate the angle of incidence for which the reflected beam is completely plane-polarised.
(b) At the angle found in part (a), state the direction of the electric field vector of the reflected beam with respect to the plane of incidence.
(c) If the reflected beam has intensity I0 and passes through a Polaroid whose transmission axis makes an angle of 30∘ with the direction of the electric field in the beam, determine the intensity of light transmitted by the Polaroid.