Name the phenomenon which enable us to distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Answer

To distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves, we can refer to the phenomenon of polarization. Here’s a step-by-step explanation:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Wave Types**:
- Transverse waves are characterized by particle motion that is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. For example, in a transverse wave, if the wave travels horizontally, the particles of the medium move up and down.
- Longitudinal waves, on the other hand, have particle motion that is parallel to the direction of wave propagation. In this case, if the wave travels horizontally, the particles of the medium also move horizontally, creating compressions and rarefactions.

2. **Identifying Key Characteristics**:
- In transverse waves, the angle between the direction of propagation and the direction of vibration is 90 degrees.
- In longitudinal waves, the angle between the direction of propagation and the direction of vibration is 0 degrees.

3. **Examples of Waves**:
- An example of a transverse wave is light waves, while sound waves are examples of longitudinal waves.

4. **Wave Phenomena**:
- Both types of waves can exhibit phenomena such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction. However, there is a significant difference in their ability to be polarized.

5. **Understanding Polarization**:
- Polarization is a phenomenon that occurs only in transverse waves. It involves the orientation of the oscillations in a particular direction. Since longitudinal waves do not have perpendicular oscillations, they cannot be polarized.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The ability to polarize a wave is what distinguishes transverse waves from longitudinal waves. Therefore, the phenomenon that enables us to distinguish between these two types of waves is **polarization**.

### Final Answer:
The phenomenon which enables us to distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves is **polarization**.