Practice Polarization in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

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Quick Recap

Polarization is the restriction of a transverse wave's oscillations to one direction or plane.

A polarizing filter only lets through certain vibration directions.

Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.

Example 1

challenge
Unpolarized light I0I_0 passes N polarizers, each rotated by 90โˆ˜/N90^\circ/N from the previous. Derive the output intensity for N=5N = 5 and compare with the crossed case (N=2N = 2).

Example 2

medium
Polarized light enters a polarizer and 1/3 of the intensity emerges. Find the angle ฮธ\theta.

Example 3

medium
Find Brewster's angle for light going from air (n1=1.00n_1 = 1.00) into water (n2=1.33n_2 = 1.33).

Example 4

easy
Vertically polarized light hits a polarizer rotated 90โˆ˜90^\circ from vertical. Find the transmitted intensity in terms of I0I_0.

Example 5

medium
Linearly polarized light of intensity I0I_0 hits a polarizer at ฮธ=30โˆ˜\theta = 30^\circ to its polarization. Find II.

Example 6

hard
Polarized light of intensity I0I_0 passes a single polarizer; the output is 0.4โ€‰I00.4\,I_0. Find the angle ฮธ\theta to one decimal place.

Example 7

easy
Light is already polarized vertically and hits a polarizer with a vertical axis. How much passes?

Example 8

hard
A photographer uses a circular polarizer to deepen the blue sky. Why is sky light partially polarized?

Example 9

challenge
Unpolarized light I0I_0 passes three polarizers at 0โˆ˜0^\circ, 30โˆ˜30^\circ, and 60โˆ˜60^\circ (each angle relative to the previous). Find the final intensity.

Example 10

easy
Polarization restricts a wave's oscillations to one direction. What type of wave can be polarized?

Example 11

easy
Unpolarized light of intensity 80ย W/m280 \text{ W/m}^2 passes a single ideal polarizer. Find the transmitted intensity.

Example 12

easy
Two ideal polarizers are aligned with each other and unpolarized light I0I_0 enters. What intensity emerges?

Example 13

medium
Light passes two polarizers and the output is 0.10โ€‰I00.10\,I_0 when the input was polarized along the first polarizer's axis. Find the angle ฮธ\theta between the polarizers.

Example 14

easy
Polarized sunglasses block glare from a wet road. The reflected glare is mostly polarized in which orientation?

Example 15

easy
Can a longitudinal sound wave in air be polarized?

Example 16

medium
A 200 W/m^2 unpolarized beam passes through two ideal polarizers, the second at 60โˆ˜60^\circ to the first. Find the final intensity.

Example 17

medium
Polarized light I0I_0 at 45โˆ˜45^\circ to a polarizer. Find the transmitted intensity.

Example 18

hard
Find Brewster's angle for light passing from water (n1=1.33n_1 = 1.33) into glass (n2=1.52n_2 = 1.52).

Example 19

challenge
Polarized light passes two polarizers. The first is aligned with the light; the second is at angle ฮธ\theta. The final intensity is 3I0/83I_0/8. Find ฮธ\theta.

Example 20

easy
Polarization restricts oscillations of a wave to one direction. Which mathematical law describes the intensity through an ideal polarizer when the input is linearly polarized at angle ฮธ\theta to the axis?
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Related Concepts

Transverse Wave