3D Polarization and Malus’s Law

The simulation shows an electromagnetic wave travelling along the +x direction with its electric field oscillating in the y‑z plane. A polarizer oriented at angle θ transmits only the component of the electric field along its axis, illustrating how unpolarized light loses half its intensity on average and how polarized light is filtered.

Students can switch between unpolarized and polarized input, display the E‑field and B‑field arrows, and add a second polarizer (analyzer). Sliders let them set the input polarization angle, the polarizer angle, and the analyzer angle, while the intensity after each element updates in real time, demonstrating Malus’s law (I∝cos² Δθ).

By interacting with the controls, learners observe how the orientation of successive polarizers controls transmitted intensity, reinforcing concepts of polarization, vector projection, and wave‑optics principles.