Question

What is meant by linear propagation of light?

Answer 1

Rectilinear Propagation of Light is the tendency of light to
only travel in straight Lines.

This means that if light "criss-crosses" between each other
whilst going through a small hole, you will see the image
upside down, as the light goes straight up from down, and
down from up.

In a homogenous transparent medium light travels in a straight line and this is known as rectilinear propagation of light. This can be demonstrated by the following experiment:

Take three cardboards A, B and C and make a pinhole at their centres. Place a burning candle on one side of the cardboard A and arrange the cardboards in such a way that the three pinholes and the candle flame are in a straight line. The candle flame will be visible through the pinhole of the cardboard C.
Now slightly displace any one of the cardboards and try to see the flame through the pinhole of the cardboard C. The flame will not be visible. From this it is clear that light travels in a straight line.