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jraek1987
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Homework Statement
An unpolarized beam of light has intensity Io. It is incident on two ideal polarizing sheets. The angle between the axes of polarization of these sheets is θ. Find θ if the emerging light has intensity Io/4.
Homework Equations
I = (1/2)Io
I = Io*cos^2θ
The Attempt at a Solution
If I = Io/4 then the second equation becomes:
Io/4 = Io*cos^2θ
Solving for θ gives:
(Io/4) = Io*cos^2θ
*1/Io {both sides}
1/4 = cos^2θ
√(1/4) = √(cos^2(θ))
1/2 = cosθ
*1/cos {both sides}
cos^-1(1/2) = θ
**The book gives the answer of cos^-1(1/√2) = θ
Not sure what I did wrong..