Home > Astrophysics > The Electromagnetic Spectrum

What types of waves can be polarized?

Answer 1

Only transverse waves can be polarized but longitudinal waves can't be polarized.

An oscillation in a transverse wave can have a direction that is different from the wave's direction because its direction is transverse to the wave's motion.

On the other hand, longitudinal waves, like sound waves, do not show polarization because the displacement of the oscillating particles in a liquid or gas is always in the direction of the wave's propagation.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer 2

Anna Armstrong

Transverse waves can be polarized. Longitudinal waves, like sound waves, cannot be polarized.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.