AFSC Cyberspace Operations Officer (17D) Block 4 Practice Exam

Polarization describes how the electric field of a radio wave oscillates. In practice, antennas are described by common named forms: horizontal polarization, vertical polarization, and circular polarization (which includes right-hand and left-hand circular). Linear polarization is a general description of a polarization state that occurs when the field oscillates along a single line; horizontal and vertical are specific orientations of linear polarization. Because lists of listed types typically include horizontal, vertical, and circular forms, linear polarization isn’t treated as a separate listed type. That’s why linear polarization is the one not listed as a distinct type. In use, matching the transmitter and receiver polarization maximizes signal reception, while mismatches cause cross-polarization loss.