Question
What property of a radio wave defines its polarization?
Answer Options
- A) The orientation of the electric field
- B) The orientation of the magnetic field
- C) The ratio of the energy in the magnetic field to the energy in the electric field
- D) The ratio of the velocity to the wavelength
Correct Answer: A
Explanation
The polarization of a radio wave is defined by the direction in which its electric field is oriented relative to the Earth’s surface. For example, if the electric field oscillates up and down (perpendicular to the ground), the wave is vertically polarized.
If the electric field oscillates side to side (parallel to the ground), the wave is horizontally polarized (T3A03). To achieve maximum signal transfer, the receiving antenna should generally match the polarization of the incoming electric field (T3A04).
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