Vertically polarized light from a HeNe laser passes through a linear polarizer

[tiziovolpe]

Q: Vertically polarized light from a helium neon laser passes through a linear polarizer with its axis of polarization oriented 15° from the vertical axis. 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?

I think that this is Malus's law : I = I_o cos² (15^o) I_o cos² (30^o) = I_o 0.6998 or 69.98% I_o

(b) What will be the polarization angle of the transmitted light?

This is the part that I am unsure of and need help. I think that it is linearly polarized at an angle of 45^o .

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

tizio volpe

 

[swansont]

Right. The light attains the polarization dictated by the last polarizing filter.