Polarization of Sound

Polarization


A wave is polarized if it can only oscillate in one direction. The polarization of a transverse wave describes the direction of oscillation, in the plane perpendicular to the direction of travel. Longitudinal waves such as sound waves do not exhibit polarization, because for these waves the direction of oscillation is along the direction of travel. A wave can be polarized by using a polarizing filter.


Examples of waves include:

Ocean surface waves, which are perturbations that propagate through water.

Radio waves, microwaves, infrared rays, visible light, ultraviolet rays, x-rays, and gamma rays make up electromagnetic radiation. In this case, propagation is possible without a medium, through vacuum. These electromagnetic waves travel at 299,792,458 m/s in a vacuum.

Sound - a mechanical wave that propagates through air, liquid or solids.

Seismic waves in earthquakes, of which there are three types, called S, P, and L.

Gravitational waves, which are fluctuations in the gravitational field predicted by general Relativity. These waves are nonlinear, and have yet to be observed empirically.Inertial waves, which occur in rotating fluids and are restored by the Coriolis effect