62

Polarization: Verify Malus’ Law

(Light Sensor, Rotary Motion Sensor)

Optics: Polarization of light DataStudio file: 62 Polarization.ds

Equipment List

Qty Items Part Numbers

1 PASCO Interface (for two sensors)
1 Light Sensor CI-6504
1 Rotary Motion Sensor CI-6538
1 Light Source and Bracket, Basic Optics OS-8517
1 Optics Bench, Basic Optics OS-8518
1 Aperture Bracket OS-8534
1 Polarization Analyzer OS-8533

Introduction
The purpose of this activity is to determine the relationship between the intensity of the
transmitted light through two polarizers and the angle,
, between the axes of the two polarizers.
You will also verify Malus' Law.
Use the Light Sensor to measure the relative intensity of light that passes through two polarizers
as you change the angle of the second polarizer relative to the first polarizer. Use the Rotary
Motion Sensor to measure the angle of the second polarizer relative to the first polarizer.
Background
A polarizer only allows light that is vibrating in a particular plane to pass through it. This plane
forms the “axis” of polarization. Unpolarized light vibrates in all planes perpendicular to the
direction of propagation. If
unpolarized light is incident upon an
“ideal” polarizer, only half will be
transmitted through the polarizer.
Since in reality no polarizer is
“ideal”, less than half the light will
be transmitted.
The transmitted light is polarized in
one plane. If this polarized light is
incident upon a second polarizer, the
axis of which is oriented such that it
is perpendicular to the plane of
polarization of the incident light, no
light will be transmitted through the second polarizer (see the top figure).
However, if the second polarizer is oriented at an angle so that it is not perpendicular to the first
polarizer, there will be some component of the electric field of the polarized light that lies in the
same direction as the axis of the second polarizer, thus some light will be transmitted through the
second polarizer (see the bottom figure).
The component, E, of the polarized electric field, Eo, is found by:

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E = Eo cos

Since the intensity of the light varies as the square of the electric field, the light intensity
transmitted through the second filter is given by:
I = Io cos2

where Io is the intensity of the light passing through the first filter and
is the angle between the
polarization axes of the two filters.
Consider the two extreme cases illustrated by this equation:
• If
is zero, the second polarizer is aligned with the first polarizer, and the value of cos2
is one. Thus
the intensity transmitted by the second filter is equal to the light intensity that passes through the first
filter. This case will allow maximum intensity to pass through.
• If
is 90˚, the second polarizer is oriented perpendicular to the plane of polarization of the first filter,
and the cos2(90˚) gives zero. Thus no light is transmitted through the second filter. This case will
allow minimum intensity to pass through.
• These results assume that the only absorption of light is due to polarizer effects. In fact most
polarizing films are not clear and thus there is also some absorption of light due to the coloring of the
Polaroid filters.

SAFETY REMINDERS
• Follow directions for using the equipment.

Setup
1. Set up the PASCO Interface and the computer and start DataStudio.
2. Connect the Light Sensor and the Rotary Motion Sensor to the interface.
3. Open the DataStudio file: 62 Polarization.ds
• The file opens with a Digits display of light intensity and Graph displays of light intensity versus the
angle and light intensity versus the cosine squared of the angle. The sample rate is set at 20 Hz. The
Rotary Motion Sensor is set for 1440 divisions per rotation.
4. Assemble the Polarization Analyzer as shown in the instructions that came with the
analzyer.
5. Place the polarizer on the accessory holder.
6. Mount the Rotary Motion Sensor onto the bracket.
7. Loop the plastic belt over the Rotary Motion Sensor and the polarizer.
Turn the polarizer so the zero degree mark is next to the reference peg
on the accessory holder.
8. Mount the Polarization Analyzer on the Optics Bench.

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9. Mount the Light Sensor on the Aperture Bracket and

attach the Aperture Bracket to the Aperture Bracket
Holder. Put the Aperture Bracket Holder onto the
Optics Bench.
10. Rotate the Aperture Disk so the open circular aperture
is in line with the opening to the Light Sensor
11. Put the Basic Optics Light Source and another
polarizer in an accessory holder onto the Optics Bench. Turn the polarizer so the zero
degree mark is next to the reference peg on the accessory holder.
scientific
PASCO

12. Turn on the Light Source. Move the Light Source and the Light Sensor so they are as close
as possible to the polarizers.
Procedure
1. Turn on the light source. Click ‘Start’ to begin recording data.
2. Slowly rotate the Polarization Analyzer so the angle increases.
3. Rotate the Polarization Analyzer through 360 degrees and then
click ‘Stop’ to end data recording.
4. Turn off the light source.

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Analysis
1. Examine the Graph display of Light
Intensity versus Angular Position. Write
a description of the graph in the Lab
Report section.
2. Next, examine the Graph display of
Light Intensity vs. Cosine Squared.
Write a description of the graph in the
Lab Report.

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Lab Report: Polarization

Name: ________________________________________________________________
Analysis
Questions
1. What is the shape of the graph of Light Intensity versus Angular Position?

2. Why is the graph of the Light Intensity vs. Cosine Squared linear?

3. What is the independent variable in this activity (what did you vary)?

4. What can you conclude about the relationship between light intensity and the angle of the
polarizers?

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Teacher Notes

Time Estimates Preparation: 25 min Activity: 45 min

Objectives
Students will be able to…
• use the Light Sensor to measure the light intensity of light transmitted through two polarizers as the
angle of one polarizer is changed relative to the other polarizer.
• use the Rotary Motion Sensor to record the angle of one polarizer relative to the other.
• use the Graph display to fit the data to mathematical models based on the angle and the cosine
squared of the angle
• compare the actual mathematical model (best fit) to the theoretical mathematical model.
Note
Why isn’t the intensity reading from the Light Sensor zero when the polarizers are
perpendicular?
The majority of radiation from a halogen or incandescent light source (such as the OS-8517
Light Source) is infrared. The polarizing material is Polaroid, a dichroic polymer that is effective
at polarizing visible light but ineffective at polarizing infrared. Since the Light Sensor is
sensitive to wavelengths from 320 to 1100 nm, it will detect both the polarized visible light and
the unpolarized infrared radiation that is transmitted through both polarizers. As a result, the
transmitted intensity will not approach zero.
One solution is to use a helium-neon laser or a diode laser with a diffusing lens. The wavelength
dependence of the polarizers becomes insignificant. Using the OS-8525 Diode Laser, the ratio of
I(0˚)/I(90˚) was approximately 180 (compared to a ratio of 2 using the OS-8517 Light Source.)
Questions
1. What is the shape of the graph of Light Intensity versus Angular Position?
The graph of light intensity versus angular position is sinusoidal.
2. Why is the graph of the Light Intensity vs. Cosine Squared linear?
The graph of Light Intensity vs. Cosine Squared was linear because light intensity is
proportional to cosine squared.
3. What is the independent variable in this activity (what did you vary)?
The independent variable was the angle between the axes of the polarizers.
4. What can you conclude about the relationship between light intensity and the angle of the
polarizers?
The transmitted light intensity is proportional to the square of the cosine of the angle.

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DataStudio Sample Data

This example shows the Graph display for Light Intensity versus Cosine Squared.

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