Wave Theory of Light

Wave Theory of Light

Wave Theory of Light

Light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, the spectrum is the collection of all waves, which include  visible light, Microwaves, radio waves ( AM, FM, SW ), X-Rays, and Gamma Rays.

In the late 1600s, important questions were raised, asking if light is made up of particles, or is it waves?

Sir Isaac Newton, held the theory that light was made up of tiny particles. In 1678, Dutch physicist, Christiaan Huygens, believed that light was made up of waves vibrating up and down perpendicular to the direction of  the light travels, and therefore formulated a way of visualising wave propagation. This became known as ‘Huygens’ Principle’.  Huygens theory was the successful theory of light  wave motion in three dimensions. Huygen, suggested that light wave peaks form surfaces like the layers of an onion. In a vacuum, or other uniform mediums, the light waves are spherical, and these wave surfaces advance or spread out as they travel at the speed of light. This theory explains why light shining through a pin hole or slit will spread out rather than going in a straight line (see diffraction). Newton’s theory came first, but the theory of Huygens, better described early experiments. Huygens’ principle lets you predict where a given wavefront will be in the future, if you have the knowledge of where the given wavefront is in the present.

Wave Theory of Light

Wave Theory of Light