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| Huygens' Principle |
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If the present position of a wave front is known, then Huygens' Principle enables us to determine what its position will be at some later time. |
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Huygens' Principle can be stated as under : |
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Every point on a given wave front acts as a source of secondary wavelets that move in the forward direction at the same speed at which the wave moves.
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The new position of the wave front at any instant is a line drawn tangent to the edges of the wavelets at that instant. |
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Huygens' construction provides as result that is consistent with observation i.e. at circular wave front continues as a circular wave front.
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Huygens' Principle can be used to explain the phenomena of reflection and refraction of light on the basis of wave theory of light. |
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