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1 Physics -- Nature and Propagation of Light

What is difference between wave front and wavelet? 

What is difference between wave front and wavelet? 

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Wave front is the locus of all the vibrating particle in the same phase. for example, an almond is dropped in a bucket full of milk, you can notice the circular wavefront generating on the surface of milk.

Wavelet is simply an oscillation that increases from zero reach to maximum and maximum to zero.

More questions on Nature and Propagation of Light

Does light bends when it comes in contact with magnet?

Path of light is unaffected by presence of external magnetic field.


Differentiate between wavelets and wavefronts

The differences are:

Wavefronts Wavelets

A wavefront is the locus of all the particles which are in phase.

A wavelet is a point on any given wave front which acts as a new source of disturbance to move in all possible directions with the velocity of light.


1.      Which theory of light explains the photoelectric effect?

The particle theory of light explains Einstein's Photoelectric effect.

1.      Does Huygen’s principle apply for sound waves in air?

Yes, Huygen's principle is also applicable to sound waves.

1.      How is the direction of a ray related with the wave front?

The direction of propagation of rays is perpendicular to the wavefront.

1.      What determines the shape of wavefront?

The shape of a wavefront is determined by two factors:

a) Shape of source
b) Distance from source

A point source produces spherical wavefronts.
Similarly, a linear source will produce cylindrical wavefronts.
If the source is at an infinite distance, the observer will observe plane wavefronts.

1.      Is backward wavefront possible? Why?

Wavefront is the locus of the adjacent points vibrating in the same phase. Hence, the wavefront also travels in the direction of propagation of energy by the wave. And, we know that the flow of energy does not happen from the lower potential to the higher potential. Therefore,there is no backward wavefront, flowing from lower disturbance to higher disturbance.

1.      Does the velocity of light change accordingly to medium?

The speed of light is considered the universal speed limit. Yet, the measured speed of light varies with the change in optical density of the medium. Light propagates faster in the rarer medium and slower in the denser medium.

In other words, it also varies along with the change in permittivity and permeability of the medium, as the speed of light is given as the reciprocal of the square root of the product of permeability and permittivity of the medium.


1.      How can a spherical wavefront be converted into plane wavefront?

If a point source of light is kept at the focus of a convex lens, we can get parallel waves emerging out from the lens, which form a plane wavefront.

1.      What are secondary wavelets?

According to Huygen's principle, each point on a wave acts as a source of the new disturbance. This new disturbance is called secondary wavelet.

1.      What is the shape of wavefront when source of light is a point source?

We can obtain a spherical wavefront from the point source.

1.      What is the shape of wavefront when source of light is linear source?

If the source is linear, we can get cylindrical wavefronts.

1.      What is the shape of wavefront when source of light is linear source?

If the source is linear, we can get cylindrical wavefronts.

What does speed of light depend on?

The speed of light is the universal speed limit, and also a universal constant. But the measured speed of light may be varied according to the change in optical density.

The speed of light depends on:

1. Optical Density
2. Permittivity of the medium
3. Permeability of the medium

1.      The equation of a light wave is written as y=Asin(kx-wt). What does  y represent? 

In the equation y = A sin (kx-wt), 'y' represents the displacement of particles of the medium about the mean position.

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