Malus' law

Principle

Linear polarised light passes through a polarisation filter. Transmitted light intensity is determined as a function of the angular position of the polarisation filter.

Benefits

• The principle that Polaroid glasses work on
• Introductory yet quantitative experiment to polarization
• Straightforward simple setup

Tasks

1. The plane of polarisation of a linear polarised laser beam is to be determined.
2. The intensity of the light transmitted by the polarisation filter is to be determined as a function of the angular position of the filter.
3. Malus' law must be verified.

Learning objectives

• Electric theory of light
• Polarisation
• Polariser
• Analyser
• Brewster's law
• Malus' law