Question

What is wavefront and its types?

Answer 1

1. The location of all the points with the same phase at the specified instant in time is referred to as a wavefront.
2. The three types of the wavefront that can form are spherical wavefront, plane wavefront, and cylindrical wavefront.
3. Spherical wavefront: When a point source emits waves in three dimensions via an isotropic medium, the wavefronts are spheres centered on the source. A wavefront like this is known as a spherical wavefront.
4. Cylindrical wavefront: All the spots that are equally distant from a linear source of light lie on the phase of a cylinder. A cylindrical wavefront is a name given to such a wavefront.
5. Plane wavefront: A plane wavefront is what is produced when a portion of a spherical or cylindrical wavefront comes from a far-off source, such as infinity.