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#light wave

3 public questions tagged with this topic.

What is the direction of energy propagation relative to the wavefront in a light wave?

**Two polaroids** with pass-axes perpendicular intensity zero because second blocks component, with 45° intensity I₀/4 if initial after first I₀, if initial unpolarized I₀, after first I₀/2 then after second at 45° I₀/4. Three polaroids first and third crossed 90°, middle at 45° maximum transmission because middle rotates polarization, I after first I₀/2, after middle at 45° I₀/4, after third at 45° to middle I₀/4×cos²45°= I₀/8, non-zero, maximum when middle 45°. The energy of a wave travels perpendicular to the wavefront. Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v, sin

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Wave Optics > Polarization and Malus Law

What is the direction of the electric field in a linearly polarized light wave relative to its propagation direction?

**Polarization** transverse wave property, light after polaroid polarized along pass-axis, Malus law I = I₀ cos²θ, θ angle between pass-axes, initial unpolarized intensity I₀ after first polaroid I₁ = I₀/2, after second at 45° I₂ = I₁ cos²45°= I₀/2×0.5= I₀/4, after two perpendicular 90° I=0 because cos90°=0, for 60° I= I₀/2×cos²60°= I₀/2×0.25= I₀/8. In a linearly polarized light wave, the electric field oscillates perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v, sinC = 1/n, λ' = λ/n and A = 2a cos(φ/2), calculation gives Perpend

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Wave Optics > Polarization and Malus Law

What type of wave is light, based on the direction of its electric field relative to its propagation direction?

**Polaroid rotation** intensity varies sinusoidally with angle due to Malus law I = I₀ cos²θ, when polaroid rotated 90° from initial, intensity goes from max to zero, for unpolarized light rotating polaroid does not change intensity after first polaroid because average, but second polaroid intensity depends on relative angle, explains why intensity transmitted through two polaroids drops to zero when perpendicular. Light is a transverse wave because its electric field oscillates perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Using Δ = d sinθ, y = n λ D/d, a sinθ = n λ, I = I₀ cos²θ, n = c/v, s

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Wave Optics > Polarization and Malus Law