HPCET Polarization — practice questions

Explore 2 free Polarization questions in HPCET Physics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Polarization questions and exercises with answers

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Which of the following phenomena conclusively proves that **light is a transverse wave**?Read the answer and worked solution →When unpolarized light passes through a single ideal polarizer, the transmitted intensity is:Read the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

Which of the following phenomena conclusively proves that light is a transverse wave?

Reflection
Refraction
Interference
Polarization

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Correct answer: D. Polarization

Only transverse waves can be polarized (oscillations restricted to one plane perpendicular to propagation). Reflection, refraction and interference occur for longitudinal waves too — they don't distinguish wave type.

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When unpolarized light passes through a single ideal polarizer, the transmitted intensity is:

The original intensity $I_0$
$I_0/2$
Zero
$2 I_0$

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Correct answer: B. $I_0/2$

Averaging $\cos^2\phi$ over all incident orientations gives $\langle\cos^2\phi\rangle = 1/2$. So unpolarized light loses half its intensity at the first polarizer the transmitted beam is plane-polarized.