Q67 / 75 · JEE Main 2026 (04 April Shift 2) · Physics
An unpolarized light of certain intensity passes through a combination of two polarizers whose transmission axes are at $30°$ and $90°$, respectively, with respect to the horizontal axis. A third polarizer with its transmission axis at $60°$ with the horizontal axis is placed between the two existing polarizers. The ratio of the output intensities with and without the third polarizer is ______.
- A$3/4$
- B$4/3$
- Correct answerC$9/4$
- D$4/9$
Solution
Let the intensity of the incident unpolarized light be $I_0$.
After passing through the first polarizer, the intensity becomes $I_1 = \dfrac{I_0}{2}$.
Without the third polarizer, the light passes directly from the first polarizer (at $30^{\circ}$) to the second polarizer (at $90^{\circ}$). The angle between their transmission axes is $90^{\circ} - 30^{\circ} = 60^{\circ}$.
Using Malus's law, the output intensity without the third polarizer is:
$I_{without} = I_1 \cos^2(60^{\circ}) = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{I_0}{8}$
When the third polarizer (at $60^{\circ}$) is placed between them, the light first passes from the first polarizer to the third polarizer. The angle between their axes is $60^{\circ} - 30^{\circ} = 30^{\circ}$.
The intensity after the third polarizer is:
$I_3 = I_1 \cos^2(30^{\circ}) = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{3I_0}{8}$
The light then passes from the third polarizer to the second polarizer. The angle between their axes is $90^{\circ} - 60^{\circ} = 30^{\circ}$.
The final output intensity with the third polarizer is:
$I_{with} = I_3 \cos^2(30^{\circ}) = \dfrac{3I_0}{8} \times \left(\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{9I_0}{32}$
The ratio of the output intensities with and without the third polarizer is:
$\text{Ratio} = \dfrac{I_{with}}{I_{without}} = \dfrac{\dfrac{9I_0}{32}}{\dfrac{I_0}{8}} = \dfrac{9}{4}$
Answer: $9/4$
After passing through the first polarizer, the intensity becomes $I_1 = \dfrac{I_0}{2}$.
Without the third polarizer, the light passes directly from the first polarizer (at $30^{\circ}$) to the second polarizer (at $90^{\circ}$). The angle between their transmission axes is $90^{\circ} - 30^{\circ} = 60^{\circ}$.
Using Malus's law, the output intensity without the third polarizer is:
$I_{without} = I_1 \cos^2(60^{\circ}) = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{I_0}{8}$
When the third polarizer (at $60^{\circ}$) is placed between them, the light first passes from the first polarizer to the third polarizer. The angle between their axes is $60^{\circ} - 30^{\circ} = 30^{\circ}$.
The intensity after the third polarizer is:
$I_3 = I_1 \cos^2(30^{\circ}) = \dfrac{I_0}{2} \times \left(\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{3I_0}{8}$
The light then passes from the third polarizer to the second polarizer. The angle between their axes is $90^{\circ} - 60^{\circ} = 30^{\circ}$.
The final output intensity with the third polarizer is:
$I_{with} = I_3 \cos^2(30^{\circ}) = \dfrac{3I_0}{8} \times \left(\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{9I_0}{32}$
The ratio of the output intensities with and without the third polarizer is:
$\text{Ratio} = \dfrac{I_{with}}{I_{without}} = \dfrac{\dfrac{9I_0}{32}}{\dfrac{I_0}{8}} = \dfrac{9}{4}$
Answer: $9/4$
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'C'.