MCAT Physical : Polarization
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical
All MCAT Physical Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Polarization
Unpolarized light passes through three polarizing filters. The angle between the first and second filters is 45o. The angle between the second and third filters is also 45o. What is the relationship between the intensity of light emerging from the third filter, 
No light passes through the third filter
Going through the first filter, the intensity of initially unpolarized light decreases by 1/2, so 
Example Question #1 : Polarization
Unpolarized monochromatic light passes through a single polaroid filter, oriented horizontally. It then encounters a second filter that is oriented vertically. Which of the following statements is true of the resulting light?
The emerging light has the same intensity, but is now polarized at
The emerging light has one half of the incident intensity and is polarized vertically
The light is entirely blocked
The emerging light has one half the incident intensity and is polarized at
The emerging light has one-fourth the incident intensity and is polarized vertically
The light is entirely blocked
The first filter polarizes the light horizontally, only allowing light to pass if it is oscillating horizontally. This would decrease the intensity by one-half.
The second filter would polarize the light vertically, only allowing light to pass if it oscillates vertically. The first filter, however, has already blocked all non-horizontal waves, including any vertical waves; thus, there are no remaining waves that can pass through the vertical filter. The light is fully blocked by this combination.
Example Question #141 : Mcat Physical Sciences
Each of the following types of waves experience polarization except __________.
electromagnetic waves
transverse waves
sound waves
light waves
sound waves
Polarization is the property that allows tansverse waves to oscillate in multiple orientations. A transverse wave can oscillate, for example, in either the xy-plane or the yz-plane.
Sound waves are longitudinal, and thus do no experience polarization as medium is displaced in one direction only. A longitudinal wave will travel in only one dimension via compression and rarefraction.
Certified Tutor
All MCAT Physical Resources
