It is possible to polarise (a) sound wave, (b)radio waves?

Question

Explain briefly why it is or is not possible in each case

Answer 1

a) Sound waves are longitudinal compression waves. How could you even define a direction of polarization???


b) Radio waves are EM waves. They can be lined up so that the directions of the varying E-field are the same (linear polarization) or rotating (circular)

Answer 2

In electrodynamics, polarization (also spelled polarisation) is the property of electromagnetic waves, such as light, that describes the direction of the transverse electric field. More generally, the polarization of a transverse wave describes the direction of oscillation in the plane perpendicular to the direction of travel. Longitudinal waves such as sound waves do not exhibit polarization, because for these waves the direction of oscillation is along the direction of travel.

Answer 3

some noise cancelling systems uses a process of taking the sound outside and sending the perpendicular to cancel it out. I don't know if this is the same as polarization or if this can be done with radio waves (think it can)

Answer 4

a) No, sound being a longitudinal waveform oscillates towards and away from the direction of motion - hence there is nothing to polarise (restricting oscillation in one plane only) as the planes of oscillation are not perpendicular to the direction of travel.

b) Yes, since radiowaves are electromagnetic radiation - that is they have both electronic and magentic waveforms which oscillate perpendicular to eachother and to the direction of travel, hence polarisation is possible as the restriction can force the two waveforms to oscillate along one plane only.

Answer 5

No since sound is a longitudinal (compression) wave.