Polarisation

Question 1

which waves can be polarised ?

Answer 1

Transverse

Question 2

characteristics of an unpolarised wave

Answer 2

oscillations change constantly because of different orientations of planes

Question 3

characteristics of polarised waves

Answer 3

moves on one plane and only oscillates parallel to one direction

Question 4

what do polarisers do

Answer 4

a polariser or polarising filter forces the wave to oscillate in one plane only, by absorbing all the other planes of oscillations.

Question 5

how do the amount of waves let through a polariser relate to the angle of the polariser (example)

Answer 5

If microwaves were being emitted only vertically they are already polarised, if a polariser on a perpendicular transmission axis is placed between the emitter and the receiver waves will only be let through if they still share any Y component, however the more perpendicular a polariser with a horizontal polarisation is to an emitter with vertical polarised microwaves the fewer the number of waves received by the receiver are, until the emitter and polariser are perpendicular so they share no components, this lack of a Y component means the waves don’t get through as the waves are vertical (move on the Y axis), the same goes for a horizontally polarised wave.

Question 6

Other examples of polarisation applications

Answer 6

Sunglasses, TV antenas