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NEET
Exam
NEET
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Wave Optics

NEET · Physics · Wave Optics

Unpolarized light of intensity I_0 passes through four polaroids...

Unpolarized light of intensity I0I_0 passes through four polaroids arranged in series. The transmission axis of each subsequent polaroid is rotated by an angle of 30∘30^{\circ} relative to the preceding one. What is the final transmitted intensity of light through the fourth polaroid?

Options

  1. A27I0128\dfrac{27 I_0}{128}
  2. B27I064\dfrac{27 I_0}{64}
  3. C81I0256\dfrac{81 I_0}{256}
  4. D9I032\dfrac{9 I_0}{32}

Correct answer

A. 27I0128\dfrac{27 I_0}{128}

Step-by-step solution

When unpolarized light of intensity I0I_0 passes through the first polaroid, its intensity is halved:
I1=I02I_1 = \dfrac{I_0}{2}

The light then passes through the second polaroid, whose axis is at 30∘30^{\circ} to the first. According to Malus's Law:
I2=I1cos⁡2(30∘)=I02×(32)2=I02×34I_2 = I_1 \cos^2(30^{\circ}) = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \dfrac{3}{4}

The third polaroid is at 30∘30^{\circ} to the second:
I3=I2cos⁡2(30∘)=(I02×34)×34=I02×(34)2I_3 = I_2 \cos^2(30^{\circ}) = \left(\dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \dfrac{3}{4}\right) \times \dfrac{3}{4} = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)^2

The fourth polaroid is at 30∘30^{\circ} to the third:
I4=I3cos⁡2(30∘)=I02×(34)2×34=I02×(34)3I_4 = I_3 \cos^2(30^{\circ}) = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)^2 \times \dfrac{3}{4} = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)^3

Calculating the final value:
I4=I02×2764=27I0128I_4 = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \dfrac{27}{64} = \dfrac{27 I_0}{128}

Answer: 27I0128\dfrac{27 I_0}{128}
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