Rectilinear propagation, the Glossary
Rectilinear propagation describes the tendency of electromagnetic waves (light) to travel in a straight line.[1]
Table of Contents
10 relations: Diffraction, Electromagnetic radiation, Maxwell's equations, Pierre de Fermat, Plane wave, Ray (optics), Refraction, Refractive index, Surface wave, Wavefront.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the interference or bending of waves around the corners of an obstacle or through an aperture into the region of geometrical shadow of the obstacle/aperture.
See Rectilinear propagation and Diffraction
Electromagnetic radiation
In physics, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) consists of waves of the electromagnetic (EM) field, which propagate through space and carry momentum and electromagnetic radiant energy.
See Rectilinear propagation and Electromagnetic radiation
Maxwell's equations
Maxwell's equations, or Maxwell–Heaviside equations, are a set of coupled partial differential equations that, together with the Lorentz force law, form the foundation of classical electromagnetism, classical optics, electric and magnetic circuits.
See Rectilinear propagation and Maxwell's equations
Pierre de Fermat
Pierre de Fermat (between 31 October and 6 December 1607 – 12 January 1665) was a French mathematician who is given credit for early developments that led to infinitesimal calculus, including his technique of adequality.
See Rectilinear propagation and Pierre de Fermat
Plane wave
In physics, a plane wave is a special case of a wave or field: a physical quantity whose value, at any moment, is constant through any plane that is perpendicular to a fixed direction in space.
See Rectilinear propagation and Plane wave
Ray (optics)
In optics, a ray is an idealized geometrical model of light or other electromagnetic radiation, obtained by choosing a curve that is perpendicular to the wavefronts of the actual light, and that points in the direction of energy flow.
See Rectilinear propagation and Ray (optics)
Refraction
In physics, refraction is the redirection of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.
See Rectilinear propagation and Refraction
Refractive index
In optics, the refractive index (or refraction index) of an optical medium is a dimensionless number that gives the indication of the light bending ability of that medium.
See Rectilinear propagation and Refractive index
Surface wave
In physics, a surface wave is a mechanical wave that propagates along the interface between differing media.
See Rectilinear propagation and Surface wave
Wavefront
In physics, the wavefront of a time-varying wave field is the set (locus) of all points having the same phase. Rectilinear propagation and wavefront are waves.
See Rectilinear propagation and Wavefront