Question

What is the shape of the emergent wavefront when a plane wavefront is incident on: (a) a prism and
(b) a convex lens?​

Answer 1

Answer:

convex lens

it is converging and the emerging wave front is a spherical converging

Answer 2

Answer:

The shape of the emergent wavefront when a plane wavefront is incident on:

(a) a prism is a flat wavefront

(b) a convex lens is a spherical wavefront

Explanation:

(a) Prism:

• When a wave enters a prism, it is the lower half of the wave that first hits the glass; as a result, this part of the wave is slowed first.
• This indicates that the upper component is moving swiftly, and as a result, the wavefront bends as it reaches the prism, giving us a wavefront with a slanting plane.
• So the wavefront that is emerging is a flat wavefront.

(b) A Convex lens:

• Since light waves move more slowly in glass than they do in the air when a wave first encounters the glass as it approaches the lens, it first slows down. That indicates that the outer portions of the wave "catch up," increasing curvature to create a converging beam.

• The outer portions of the wave accelerate first when it leaves the lens since they are the first to enter the air. This indicates that the outer portions begin to travel away at a faster rate, increasing the wave's curvature and causing a stronger convergence of the light.

• Therefore, a spherical wavefront is emerging from a convex lens.

Thus, the shape of the emergent wavefront when a plane wavefront is incident on:

(a) A prism is a flat wavefront

(b) A convex lens is a spherical wavefront

#SPJ3