polarization

(po”lar-iz-a’shun). 1. The production of that condition in light by virtue of which its vibrations take place all in one plane or else in circles and ellipses. 2. The accumulation of bubbles of hydrogen gas on the negative plate of a galvanic battery, so that the generation of electricity is impeded. circular p., that polarization which causes the vibrations all to take place in circles. elliptic p., that which causes the vibrations to move in ellipses. plane p., the production of such a polarization that the light vibrations are all inone plane. rotatory p., that which rotates the plane in which the vibrations take place.