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