Electromagnetic Waves and Wave Optics: Wavefront — Huygens Principle MCQ

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Wavefront — Huygens PrincipleMediumQuestion 20237

Question

Huygens' principle states that every point on a wavefront acts as:

A
A source of new waves only in the forward direction
B
A source of secondary spherical wavelets; the new wavefront is the tangent envelope of these wavelets
Correct
C
A reflector of light
D
A source of transverse waves only

Correct answer

A source of secondary spherical wavelets; the new wavefront is the tangent envelope of these wavelets

Explanation

Each point on a wavefront is a source of spherical secondary wavelets. The next wavefront is the common tangent (envelope) to all secondary wavelets. Huygens' principle explains reflection, refraction, and diffraction geometrically.

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