Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Purpose:
This lab is an experiment to verify Malus Law for polarized light in both a
two and three polarizer system.
1
Polarization Physics 227 Lab
Start with both angles at 0 degrees and adjust the angle of the second po-
larizer in increments of around 10 degrees and take your θ and Intensity I,
until youve taken a full 360 degrees of data points.
You should have two columns, one for θ in degrees and one for I in kHz.
First add another column for cos(2(θ + δ)) and insert this formula in the
column. Be sure to reserve a cell at the top for your δ, and use an absolute
reference for it in the entire column. Set this δ to zero for now.
Note: Excel’s trig functions (Cos()) has default for units in radians, be sure
to convert using 360 deg = 2Pi() Rad .
2
Polarization Physics 227 Lab
Next plot your intensity against cos(2(θ +δ)). You should see something that
looks as follows.
Question 2:
What happens to the plot of I versus cos(2(θ + δ)) if you adjust δ? Comment
on the observed behavior.
Now our theory says this plot should be linear, so let’s make a linear fit
for it. To do this we could put a trendline to the data, but some system-
atic errors could make this inaccurate so instead we will use a function to
estimate the line. Luckily excel has the function we need, Linest(). As in
week two use the Linest() function in excel to get a slope and y intercept for
the estimated line.
Note: If you missed week two or just do not remember Linest() use the excel
help! Or ask your instructor for guidance.
Finally we have a linear fit, use this m, b and calculated cos(2(θ + δ)) to
Find a theoretical Intensity and add it to your plot of I versus Angle.
Hint: Itheory = m(cos(2(θ + δ))) + b
Now minimize the distance between your data and the linear fit by adjusting
delta, this will solve for your systematic error. Again this should be review
but use the SUMXMY2() function and excels solver, ask your instructor for
assistance if necessary.
3
Polarization Physics 227 Lab
Question 3:
There are two different solutions for δ one will give you a positive slope, and
the other a negative slope, show why.
For Malus law in this case we will multiply the original form by an additional
adjustment for the third polarizer in the form of
Again we can use some trig (See last page for derivation), which will get us
to the linear form
Io Io
I = − cos2 (4θ) +
16 16
Now take data for this system. To setup the three polarizers note the labels
in the diagram. Start by putting the first and third polarizers into place,
insuring that the first one is at zero degrees and that there is enough space
for the second polarizer to go in between them.
Now put the third polarizer at 90 degrees to the first, and look through
them to minimize the light transmitted as shown below. This will ensure a
proper 90 degrees, eliminating the equipment error.
4
Polarization Physics 227 Lab
Note that if you are off by even a degree in minimizing the transmitted light
between one and three you will see an odd waveform as shown here.
5
Polarization Physics 227 Lab
Finally put the second polarizer into place and and start taking data as before
by turning only the second polarizer. Again polarizers 1 and 3 are FIXED,
you are turning only polarizer 2.
Find your fit and delta the same way as part one, being sure to use the
new formula.
6
Polarization Physics 227 Lab
or
1 − cos(2α)
sin2 (α) =
2
1 − cos(4θ)
sin2 (2θ) = .
2
This leaves us with
Io 1 − cos(4θ) Io
It = = (1 − cos(4θ)) .
8 2 16
If misaligned this becomes more challenging, where we use outer two pol.
Io
It = cos2 (θ) cos2 (β − θ)
2
Where β is very close to 90◦ (β = 90 + δ)