Polarization
Polarization is a property of waves that can oscillate with more than one orientation. In physics, it describes the state of electromagnetic waves that includes the orientation of their oscillations. This phenomenon occurs in other electromagnetic waves such as infrared, light, and radio waves.
Polarization can occur in other types of waves, such as sound waves in a gas or liquid, and is closely connected to the angular momentum of physical systems. It is an important parameter in areas of science dealing with wave propagation, such as optics, seismology, radio, and microwave engineering.
Types of Polarization[edit | edit source]
There are two types of polarization: linear and circular.
Linear polarization occurs when the electric field of light is confined to a single plane along the direction of propagation.
Circular polarization occurs when the electric field of the light wave is rotating in a circular motion while moving forward.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Polarization has many practical applications. It is used in many areas of modern physics and engineering, including optics, radar, and radio broadcasting.
In optics, polarized light can be used to measure optical properties of materials, such as birefringence or optical activity.
In radar technology, polarization can help differentiate between different types of targets.
In radio broadcasting, polarization helps reduce interference between different stations.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Polarization Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
