Polarization direction refers to the orientation of the electric field vector of a plane wave. In linearly polarized plane waves, the electric field oscillates in a single plane, while in unpolarized waves, the electric field oscillates in all possible planes.
Polarization direction is typically measured using a polarimeter, which is a device that can determine the orientation of the electric field vector of a wave. Another method is to use a polarizing filter, which only allows light waves with a specific polarization direction to pass through.
Horizontal polarization refers to the electric field oscillating in a horizontal plane, while vertical polarization refers to the electric field oscillating in a vertical plane. These are two common orientations of linearly polarized waves, but there can also be diagonal or circular polarization.
The polarization direction of a wave can affect how it interacts with other materials. For example, if a polarized wave with a perpendicular orientation to a polarizing filter passes through, it will be completely blocked. However, if the wave's polarization direction is parallel to the filter, it will pass through with minimal attenuation.
Yes, the polarization direction of a wave can be changed through various methods such as reflection, refraction, or scattering. These processes can cause the wave to change its direction of oscillation and therefore change its polarization direction.