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The ray of light
  • a)
    is always normal to wavefront
  • b)
    is always tangential to wavefront
  • c)
    does not exist in the Huygen's principle
  • d)
    may be tangential or normal to wavefront
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
The ray of lighta)is always normal to wavefrontb)is always tangential ...
A light ray is a line (straight or curved) that is perpendicular to the light's wavefronts; its tangent is collinear with the wave vector. Light rays in homogeneous media are straight. They bend at the interface between two dissimilar media and may be curved in a medium in which the refractive index changes.
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The ray of lighta)is always normal to wavefrontb)is always tangential ...
The Ray of Light

The ray of light is an important concept in the study of optics. It refers to the path that a beam of light follows as it travels through a medium or in a vacuum. The behavior of light can be understood using the principles of geometrical optics, which simplifies the study of light by treating it as a ray rather than a wave.

Huygens' Principle

Huygens' principle is a fundamental principle in optics that helps explain the behavior of light. According to this principle, every point on a wavefront can be considered as a source of secondary spherical wavelets. These wavelets combine to form the new wavefront at a later time. This principle allows us to explain phenomena such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction.

Ray and Wavefront Relationship

When considering the relationship between the ray of light and the wavefront, it is important to understand the definitions of these terms. A wavefront is a surface that represents points in a medium that are in phase with each other. It can be thought of as the crest or trough of a wave. On the other hand, a ray of light is a line that represents the direction of propagation of light.

Normal and Tangential Rays

In the context of a wavefront, the term "normal" refers to a line that is perpendicular to the wavefront. This means that the ray of light is perpendicular to the wavefront at every point. On the other hand, a "tangential" ray refers to a line that is tangent to the wavefront at a certain point. This means that the ray of light is touching the wavefront at that point.

The Correct Answer

The correct answer to the given question is option 'A' - the ray of light is always normal to the wavefront. This is because Huygens' principle states that every point on a wavefront can be considered as a source of secondary wavelets. These wavelets propagate in all directions, including perpendicular to the wavefront. Therefore, the ray of light, which represents the direction of propagation, is always normal to the wavefront.

In summary, the ray of light is always normal to the wavefront according to Huygens' principle. This principle helps explain the behavior of light and allows us to understand phenomena such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
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