How does wave polarisation occur and in which types of waves?

Wave polarisation occurs when waves oscillate in one direction or plane. It is common in transverse waves, including light and radio waves.

Wave polarisation is a phenomenon that is unique to transverse waves, which are waves that move perpendicular to the direction of propagation. This includes waves such as light, radio, and electromagnetic waves. Polarisation occurs when these waves vibrate in a single plane or direction. This is different from unpolarised waves, which vibrate in multiple planes.

The process of polarisation can occur naturally or can be induced artificially. Natural polarisation happens when light or other transverse waves pass through certain materials or reflect off surfaces, causing the waves to vibrate in a specific plane. For example, sunlight becomes partially polarised when it reflects off water or glass.

Artificial polarisation, on the other hand, is achieved using a polarising filter or material. These materials allow waves vibrating in one specific direction to pass through, while blocking waves vibrating in other directions. This results in a beam of light or other wave that is polarised, meaning it vibrates in a single plane.

Polarisation has many practical applications. For instance, polarised sunglasses reduce glare by blocking horizontally polarised light, which is common in reflections from water or glass. In the field of telecommunications, radio and TV signals are often polarised to improve reception.

In summary, wave polarisation is a characteristic of transverse waves, where the waves oscillate in a single direction or plane. It can occur naturally or be induced artificially, and has numerous practical applications.