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    Question ID:   4623         Current Version: 2
Question: What is wavefront?
Category: Science > Physics
Keywords: definition, wavefront
Type: what
Rating:(0 ratings)    Views: 276    Discussions: 0   In Watch Lists: 2  

 
    Answer:

Wavefront is the surface defined by the locus of points that have the same phase, i.e., have the same path length from the source.

  • The wavefront is perpendicular to the ray that represents an electromagnetic wave.
  • The plane in which the electric and magnetic field vectors lie is tangential to the wavefront at every point.
  • The vector that represents the wavefront indicates the direction of propagation.
  • For parallel, i.e., collimated, rays, the wavefront is plane. For rays diverging from a point, or converging toward a point, the wavefront is spherical. For rays with varying divergence or convergence, the wavefront has other shapes, such as ellipsoidal and paraboloidal, depending on the nature of the source.
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