Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 27: Q31CQ (page 995)

Can a sound wave in air be polarized? Explain

Short Answer

Expert verified

No, polarization of sound waves is not possible.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of polarization

Polarization is a phenomena generated by the wave nature of electromagnetic radiation.

02

Whether sound waves can be polarized or not.

No, polarization of sound waves is not possible.

The sound wave is the longitudinal wave. Because it vibrates in a direction perpendicular to the propagation direction, polarization is only visible in transverse waves. Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized since they vibrate in the same direction as the propagation direction.

Therefore, polarization of sound waves is impossible.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Under what circumstances is the phase of light changed by reflection? Is the phase related to polarization?

An inventor notices that a soap bubble is dark at its thinnest and realizes that destructive interference is taking place for all wavelengths. How could she use this knowledge to make a non-reflective coating for lenses that is effective at all wavelengths? That is, what limits would there be on the index of refraction and thickness of the coating? How might this be impractical?

The analysis shown in the figure below also applies to diffraction gratings with lines separated by a distance d. What is the distance between fringes produced by a diffraction grating having 125 lines per centimeter for 600‐nmlight, if the screen is 1.05maway?

The distance between adjacent fringes is△y=xλ/d, assuming the slit separation d is large compared withλ.

What are the advantages of a diffraction grating over a prism in dispersing light for spectral analysis?

What is the distance between lines on a diffraction grating that produces a second-order maximum for760‐nmred light at an angle of60.0∘?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics

Read Explanation

Oscillations

Read Explanation

Wave Optics

Read Explanation

Famous Physicists

Read Explanation

Dynamics

Read Explanation

Turning Points in Physics

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free