A wave that is vibrating in more than one plane is referred to as unpolarized. Polarized waves are waves in which the vibrations occur in a single plane. The process of transforming unpolarized wave into polarized wave is known as polarization. Light waves are often polarized using a polarizing filter. Only transverse waves can be polarized. Longitudinal waves, such as sound, cannot be polarized because they always travel in the same direction of the wave.

Key terms

• Polarization is the process of transforming unpolarized wave into polarized wave