Question

Define the terms isotropic and anisotropic medium.

Answer 1

Hint: In basic crystallography, these two words isotropic and anisotropic media are used to describe the material's properties. The mechanical and physical properties of crystals can be easily influenced by the atom orientation.

Complete answer:
An isotropic medium is one in which all of the properties are the same regardless of direction. Chemical bonding is the same and consistent with all of these. These are the materials that are used to make windows and glasses. There is only one refractive index for these.
The term "anisotropic medium" refers to a medium with properties that vary in all directions. Chemical bonding is distinct and inconsistent in these. Polarisers and wedges are made with these. These have a wide range of refractive indices. Anisotropic materials include wood and layered rocks like slate, which have different material properties parallel and perpendicular to the grain.

Additional Information:
Diamond is crystalline and anisotropic, which means it has directional properties. There are several facets in a single crystalline diamond. Amorphous diamond, on the other hand, is isotropic like glass and can be cut into any shape, including an ideal sphere.
The hexagonal crystallographic symmetry of ice crystals in glaciers and ice sheets is mechanically anisotropic. As stress increases, ice crystals establish a preferred orientation, which is critical for understanding and modelling glaciers and ice sheets.

Note:
Isotropic solids are amorphous solids. It is because they do not have any long-range order, and their arrangement is erratic in all directions. As a result, the value of every physical asset will be the same in any direction.