When we say that an object is polarized, we are referring to the orientation of its electric charges. In physics, polarization typically relates to waves, such as light waves, and describes the direction in which the electric field oscillates. An object can become polarized when an external electric field is applied, causing the positive and negative charges within the object to align in a specific direction.
For instance, in the context of light, natural light is made up of waves vibrating in all possible directions. However, when light reflects off a surface or passes through certain materials, its waves can become aligned in a single direction, resulting in polarized light. This is often seen in sunglasses designed to reduce glare, which are effective because they block certain orientations of light waves.
In summary, when an object is polarized, it means that the distribution of electric charges has been influenced in such a way that it exhibits an alignment, which affects how it interacts with electric fields and light waves.