subject: Wave Nature Of Light [print this page] Introduction to the wave nature of light:
Light is a form of energy, which enables us to see. Similarly, sound is a form of energy, which enables us to hear. From the results of extensive experiments on the characteristics of sound by various scientists, we have the proper knowledge that sound energy exists in the form of vibrations and travels in the form of waves from one medium to another. However, in what form does light energy exist, and how does it travel; these questions have been a topic of debate among scientists for centuries.
In brief, we can say that there have been two groups among scientists, one of which has supported that light energy has the form of waves, while the other has maintained that light energy has a particulate nature. After endless discussions and much research and development, it has been concluded that light energy exhibits both, wave and particle forms and this interesting topic is named the dual nature of light. In this short article, we will study the wave nature of light.
Explanation of the Wave Nature of Light
The wave nature of light says that light is a form of energy that travels in the form of waves (electromagnetic waves). These waves contain two waves, one is the electric wave while other is the magnetic wave. The two waves are always together, and are perpendicular to each other. Diagrammatically this can be represented by the following schematic diagram:
In the above diagram, the red wave is perpendicular to the blue wave. The red wave is a magnetic wave and the blue wave represents an electric wave. Together, they are referred to as an electromagnetic wave, and in simple terms, light.
Characteristics and History of the Wave Nature of Light
The most remarkable characteristic of the wave nature of light is that it supports that light waves (electromagnetic waves) are self propagating waves, that is, they do not need a medium to travel from one point to another in space. This explains how light is able to travel in the vacuum in space. For example, light travels from the sun to the earth through space where there is no medium of propagation. This means that light waves have the energy to move on their own, that is, they are self propagating waves.
The wave nature of light was first given by Robert Hooke in the 1660's. After that, many scientists, for example, Christian Huygens, Thomas Young, Leonhard Euler, Maxwell, etc supported the wave nature of light from their own experiments and observations.
