The Nature & Propagation of Light Explained | Chapter 33 of University Physics
The Nature & Propagation of Light Explained | Chapter 33 of University Physics Chapter 33 delves into how light behaves as both a wave and a particle, revealing the principles behind reflection, refraction, dispersion, polarization, and the powerful Huygens’s principle. These concepts form the foundation of both geometric and physical optics, essential for applications from fiber-optic communications to imaging systems. Watch the full video summary here to see demonstrations of light-wave behavior and applications in optics. Wave Nature & Duality of Light Light is an electromagnetic wave produced by accelerating charges, exhibiting interference and diffraction. Yet it also behaves as photons—particles of energy—explained by quantum electrodynamics. This duality underpins modern optics and photonics. Wave Fronts & Rays A wave front is a surface of constant phase, while a ray is the direction of energy propagation, perpendicular to the front. Geometric optics u...