In a stack of three polarizing sheets the first and third are crossed while the middle one has its axis at 45° to the axes of the other two. The fraction of the intensity of an incident unpolarized beam of light that is transmitted by the stack is:
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Question

In a stack of three polarizing sheets the first and third are crossed while the middle one has its axis at 45° to the axes of the other two. The fraction of the intensity of an incident unpolarized beam of light that is transmitted by the stack is:

Options

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Unpolarized I₀ becomes I₀/2 after the first polarizer. A 45° second polarizer gives I₀/4, and a third polarizer another 45° away gives I₀/8. Option D.