Which of the following is the exclusive property of a transverse wave?
Answer Details
The property that is exclusive to transverse waves is polarization.
In a transverse wave, the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. This means that the wave has a direction of oscillation that is perpendicular to its direction of travel.
Polarization refers to the orientation of the direction of oscillation of the wave. In a transverse wave, the direction of oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of travel, and this direction can be restricted to a single plane. This means that transverse waves can be polarized, while longitudinal waves cannot be.
Diffraction, refraction, and compression are properties that are not exclusive to transverse waves. Diffraction refers to the bending of a wave around an obstacle, refraction refers to the bending of a wave as it passes through a medium with different properties, and compression is a property of longitudinal waves where the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation, causing areas of high and low pressure.
So the correct answer is option D: polarization.