Grade 11 · Science · Physics

11th grade Polarization of light worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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Polarization of light

Grade 11 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

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Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

Polarized light of 100 W/m² meets a filter turned 60° from its direction. Using I = I₀ cos² θ, how intense is the light that passes, Ari?
Polarized light of 80 W/m² meets a filter turned 30° from its direction. Using I = I₀ cos² θ, how intense is the light that passes, Bo?
Polarized light of 40 W/m² meets a filter turned 45° from its direction. Using I = I₀ cos² θ, how intense is the light that passes, Esme?
4.
In the photon diagram, which way does light vibrate after filter A, Jun?
- Side to side
- In many directions at once
- Up and down
5.
In the photon diagram, why does no light leave filter B, Kira?
Use the picture in question 4.
- Filter A used up the light
- Filter B is painted black
- Its slots cross the light
6.
In the photon diagram, filter B is turned so its slots are vertical. What happens, Luz?
Use the picture in question 4.
- The light changes color
- The light passes B
- No light passes B
7.
Why can light be polarized, Milo?
- It travels very fast
- It is a transverse wave
- It is a longitudinal wave
8.
Why do polarized sunglasses help near a lake, Ren?
- They cut glare off the water
- They block heat
- They make the water brighter
9.
How do some 3-D movie glasses work, Tala?
- Each lens passes one polarization
- They magnify the screen
- Each lens is a different size
10.
Which device uses polarizing filters to make its picture, Zee?
- A loudspeaker
- An LCD screen
- A light switch

Polarization of light. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

I can use Malus's law, I = I₀ cos² θ, for polarized light through a filter.
I can find the light through two filters from unpolarized light: half after the first, then cos² θ.
I can work backwards to the angle, θ = cos⁻¹ √(I ÷ I₀), and handle three filters step by step.
I can explain why only transverse waves (light, not sound) can be polarized, and how sunglasses, 3-D glasses and LCD screens use it.

Standard: none (TX)

polarized: Light vibrating in one direction only

unpolarized: Light vibrating in many directions, like sunlight or a bulb's

filter (polarizer): A sheet that passes only light vibrating along its slots

crossed: Two filters with slots at 90° to each other

transverse: A wave vibrating across its direction of travel

Your child used cos θ, not cos² θ. Malus's law squares the cosine: I = I₀ cos² θ.

Your child skipped the first halving. A filter passes half of unpolarized light before Malus's law applies.

Your child left out the square root. From I = I₀ cos² θ, cos θ = √(I ÷ I₀).

What is the most common mistake with polarization of light?

Your child used cos θ, not cos² θ. Malus's law squares the cosine: I = I₀ cos² θ.

Are these 11th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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