Why can't sound waves be polarized?
Grayson Pierce
Answered question
2022-07-22
Answer & Explanation
Kitamiliseakekw
Beginner2022-07-23Added 23 answers
Transverse: vibrations perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave .
Longitudinal: vibrations parallel to the direction of travel of the wave.
Sound waves are longitudinal so they cannot be polarised.
Polarised: the wave vibrations occur in one plane only
Unpolarised: the wave vibrations occur in all planes perpendicular to the direction of travel.
The reason that only transverse waves can be polarised is that their vibrations can potentially occur in all directions perpendicular to the direction of travel. It is therefore possible to confine the vibrations to a single plane.
Or put another way an unpolarised transverse wave is a 3D shape, it is therefore possible to confine it to a 2D shape (a plane).
The vibrations of a longitudinal wave occur along a single line, it is therefore not possible to confine that to a plane, i.e. a 1D shape cannot be confined within a 2D shape.
New Questions in Wave motion
A person is sitting away from a sound source. What is the time interval at which successive compressions pulses from the source reach him?
Sound waves with frequency smaller than 20 Hz are called:
ultrasound
infrasound
nanosound
minisoundWhy is momentum conserved?
What type of wave travels slower through gases than it does through solids?
Which of the following is an example of longitudinal wave?
What are the properties of sound waves?
What are some examples of resonance.
If the amplitude of a sound in doubled, then the loudness increases:
A)Remains same
B)Increases three times
C)Increases four time
D)Increases two times1 db is equal to how many hertz?
How do sound waves travel in air medium?
What is the period of the Great Clock's, Big Ben, pendulum.
Sound waves with a frequency of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz are called_______. A. Audible sounds B. Inaudible sounds C. Infrasonics D.Ultrasonics
Do all EM waves travel at same speed?
What is the wavelength of light (nm) that has a frequency ?
A.
B.
C.
D.A person has a hearing range from to . What are the typical wavelengths of sound waves in air corresponding to these two frequencies? Take the speed of sound in air as .
