Rectilinear propagation: Difference between revisions
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'''Rectilinear propagation''' is a [[wave]] property which states that waves [[:wikt:propagate|propagate]] (move or spread out) in straight lines. This property applies to both [[transverse wave|transverse]] and [[longitudinal wave|longitudinal]] waves. Even though a [[wave front]] may be bent (the [[Surface wave|waves]] created by a rock hitting a pond) the individual waves are moving in straight lines. |
'''Rectilinear propagation''' is a [[wave]] property which states that waves [[:wikt:propagate|propagate]] (move or spread out) in straight lines. This property applies to both [[transverse wave|transverse]] and [[longitudinal wave|longitudinal]] waves. Even though a [[wave front]] may be bent (the [[Surface wave|waves]] created by a rock hitting a pond) the individual waves are moving in straight lines. In the sense of the scattering of waves by an inhomogeneous medium, this situation corresponds to the case <math>n = 1</math>, where <math>n</math> is the index of the material. |
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Revision as of 13:18, 30 March 2010
Rectilinear propagation is a wave property which states that waves propagate (move or spread out) in straight lines. This property applies to both transverse and longitudinal waves. Even though a wave front may be bent (the waves created by a rock hitting a pond) the individual waves are moving in straight lines. In the sense of the scattering of waves by an inhomogeneous medium, this situation corresponds to the case , where is the index of the material.
