How to use the polarization calculator
Find transmitted light intensity through a polarizer. Enter incident intensity, angle between axes in the fields above; the transmitted intensity is computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- I0 — Incident intensity
- th — Angle between axes (°)
Worked example
With incident intensity = 100, angle between axes = 30 °, the calculator gives transmitted intensity ≈ 75.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the polarization calculation?
Transmitted intensity = I0 × cos(th)^2. Here I0 is incident intensity, th is angle between axes (°).
What inputs do I need for the polarization (malus's law) calculator?
You need incident intensity, angle between axes in °. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.