Polaroid Sheets

PIRA 6H10.11

The Polaroid sheets shown at left can be rotated relative to each other to illustrate Malus' Law.  The high intensity light shown can be used to shine a beam through the Polaroid sheets onto a screen.  The Polaroid sheets can also be placed on an overhead projector.  Orient the polarization directions of the two circular sheets 90 degrees to each other to block all transmitted light.  Insert a third Polaroid sheet between them, and have students explain the