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What is polarization of waves?
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Definition: Polarization of waves is the
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restriction of the vibrations of a
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transverse wave to a single plane.
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Explanation: Only transverse waves like
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light waves can be polarized since their
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vibrations are perpendicular to the
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direction of wave travel. Normally,
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transverse waves vibrate in many random
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directions. Polarization filters these
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vibrations so that they all align in
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just one direction. Longitudinal waves
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like sound cannot be polarized because
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their vibrations are along the direction
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of motion. Imagine, think of shaking a
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rope tied to a wall. If you shake it up
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and down, the wave is vertical. If you
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shake it side to side, it's horizontal.
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But if you pass the rope through a
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narrow slot that only allows vertical
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vibrations, you've polarized the wave.
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In simple terms, polarization makes
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waves vibrate in just
