Write the limitation of Huygen's principle.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) According to Huygen's principle,every point on a wavefront acts as an independent secondary source and emits small secondary wavelets.
Huygen's principle assumes that the amplitude of these secondary wavelets is maximum in the forward direction and zero in the backward direction.
However,Huygen's could not provide a theoretical justification for why the wave does not propagate backwards; this was an ad-hoc assumption.
Later,scientists such as Voigt and Kirchhoff provided a mathematical explanation,stating that the intensity of the secondary wave is proportional to the factor $(1 + \cos \theta)^2$,where $\theta$ is the angle made by the wavefront with the direction of propagation.
In the forward direction,$\theta = 0^{\circ}$,so the intensity factor is $(1 + \cos 0^{\circ})^2 = (1 + 1)^2 = 4$ (maximum).
In the backward direction,$\theta = 180^{\circ}$ (or $\pi$ radians),so the intensity factor is $(1 + \cos 180^{\circ})^2 = (1 - 1)^2 = 0$. Thus,there is no propagation of waves in the backward direction.

Explore More

Similar Questions

Explain the use of wavefront to understand wave propagation.

For light diverging from a finite point source,

$A$ wavefront is a surface

What is visible light? Write various views on it.

By Huygen's wave theory of light,we cannot explain the phenomenon of

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo