Please explain how polarisation of waves occurs?

Electromagnetic waves can be imagined by a sinusoidal wave moving up and down, with this movement perpendicular to the direction that they are travelling in. Imagine a sea wave, it moves up and down but also forwards. When electromagnetic waves are produced in the real world, different waves will move up and down in different directions, even if they're moving forward in the same direction. Imagine lots of light waves moving into the page, and their sine waves form a circle around the point of light. Polarisation is when only a small selection of direction is allowed. So a polarising filter will block all directions of the circle except a few.

TM
Answered by Tom M. Physics tutor

1634 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Derive the Drift Velocity Equation


Describe energy transformations in a oscillating pendulum, which undergoes simple harmonic motion. How this implies the velocity at critical (lowest and highest) points?


What is the equivalence principle of General Relativity and what does it mean?


Describe the process of nuclear fission is induced


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences