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Concept of Wave Optics

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Estimated time: 6 minutes
CBSE: Class 12

Key Points: Introduction of Wave Optics

Wave Optics (Physical Optics) treats light as a wave, explaining phenomena like interference, diffraction, and polarisation, which Ray Optics cannot explain.

  • wavefront is an imaginary surface where all points of a wave have the same phase (constant phase surface with maximum or minimum value).
  • The direction of propagation of a wave is always perpendicular to the wavefront.
  • Wavefront of a point source is a sphere; it propagates radially outward.

Types of Wavefronts:

S.No. Wavefront

Shape of Light Source

Diagram or shape of wavefront

Variation of amplitude (A) with distance Variation of intensity (I) with distance
1 Spherical Point source \[A\propto\frac{1}{r}\] \[I\propto\frac{1}{r^2}\]
2 Cylindrical Linear source / Slit \[A\propto\frac{1}{\sqrt{r}}\] \[I\propto\frac{1}{r}\]
3 Plane Extended large source/ Point source at very large distinct A = constant A ∝ r° I = constant I ∝ r°

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