alleryWhich of the following phenomena is characteristic ONLY of transverse waves and NOT of longitudinal waves?
AReflection
BPolarisation
CDiffraction
DRefraction
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Polarisation
1. Reflection, refraction and diffraction occur for both wave types.
2. Polarisation restricts the plane of vibration to one direction.
3. Longitudinal waves oscillate parallel to propagation and have no such freedom.
4. Polarisation therefore proves the wave nature of light AND that it is transverse.
_Source: syllabus Physics, Ch 10 "Wave Optics", §10.7_
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