Physics · Wave optics: wavefront and Huygens' Principle, laws of reflection and refraction using Huygens principle

Light waves travel in vaccum along the y-axis. Then the wave front is:

Light waves travel in vaccum along the y-axis. Then the wave front is:

  • A. \( y= \) constant
  • B. \( x= \) constant
  • C. \( z= \) constant
  • D. \( x+y+z= \) constant

Step-by-step solution

Light waves traveling along the y-axis are plane waves. The wavefront is perpendicular to the direction of propagation, so all points with the same y-coordinate are in phase. Hence, the wavefront is a plane where y is constant.
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