Malus's law involves cos^2theta because:

  1. light travels at an angle
  2. the filter absorbs half
  3. the filter passes the amplitude component Acostheta, and intensity ∝ amplitude^2
  4. intensity is proportional to amplitude
Answer

C) the filter passes the amplitude component Acostheta, and intensity ∝ amplitude^2

I propto (Acostheta)^2. SLO P-11-D-06 · Understanding

Physics MCQ · More Polarization MCQs · Practise