The phenomenon of polarization of electromagnetic waves proves that the electromagnetic waves are (A) mechanical (B) longitudinal (C) transverse (D) none of these

Polarization is the phenomenon where the electric field vector of an electromagnetic wave oscillates in a specific plane perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. This phenomenon is unique to transverse waves, where the oscillation of the wave is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Now, let's evaluate each choice based on the phenomenon of polarization. (A) Mechanical: Electromagnetic waves are not mechanical waves. Mechanical waves require a medium to propagate, while electromagnetic waves can propagate through a vacuum. So, this choice is incorrect. (B) Longitudinal: Longitudinal waves are waves where the oscillation of the particles is parallel to the direction of the wave's propagation. The phenomenon of polarization proves that the electric field oscillates in a plane perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, which is not the case for longitudinal waves. So, this choice is incorrect. (C) Transverse: Transverse waves are waves where the oscillation of the particles is perpendicular to the direction of the wave's propagation, which matches the condition for polarization. Therefore, this choice is correct. (D) None of these: Since we have already determined that electromagnetic waves are transverse based on the phenomenon of polarization, this choice is incorrect.

The phenomenon of polarization of electromagnetic waves proves that electromagnetic waves are transverse. Hence, the correct answer is (C) transverse.