Polarization (optics) is

• A. Filtering light depending on wavelength
• B. Filtering light depending on direction of oscillation
• C. Changing the color of light
• D. Increasing the speed of light in a medium

Answer: (B)

Polarization in optics describes the orientation of the electric field as light travels. Light is a transverse wave, so its electric field can oscillate in different directions perpendicular to the direction of travel. A polarizing filter transmits only the component of that oscillation along its transmission axis and blocks the perpendicular component. In other words, it filters light by the direction of the electric field’s oscillation, not by its color or speed.

This is why the correct idea is that polarization filters light according to the direction of oscillation of the electric field. It does not inherently filter by wavelength (color), change the light’s color, or increase its speed in a medium.