How Does Huygen's Principle Explain Wave Propagation?

In summary, the conversation discusses the calculation of diagonal distance travel time and its relation to the lens maker's formula. The individual is seeking an explanation for why the two are equal. They mention a source for the derivation of the formula and mention trying to equate two paths, but do not specify where they got stuck.
  • #1
Aliasa
16
1

Homework Statement


Screen_Shot_2016_10_25_at_6_51_05_PM.png


Homework Equations


N/A

The Attempt at a Solution


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Okay, it is not an assignment question. I am just looking for an explanation regarding something I read. Why is the diagonal distance travel time(^-1) equal to [tex] (n_2 - n_1){(\frac{1}{c_1} + \frac{1}{c_2})} [/tex] ?
 
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  • #2
Google http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-iv/optics/lens-makers-formula.php (derivation)
 
  • #3
Aliasa said:
I am just looking for an explanation regarding something I read. Why is the diagonal distance travel time(^-1) equal to [tex] (n_2 - n_1){(\frac{1}{c_1} + \frac{1}{c_2})} [/tex] ?
Did you try to equate the two paths? If so, where did you get stuck?
 

Related to How Does Huygen's Principle Explain Wave Propagation?

1. What is Huygen's principle on waves?

Huygen's principle on waves is a fundamental concept in wave theory that explains how waves propagate through a medium. It states that every point on a wave front can be considered as a source of secondary wavelets that spread out in all directions, and the sum of these secondary wavelets determines the shape of the new wave front at a later time.

2. Who came up with Huygen's principle?

Huygen's principle is named after Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens, who first proposed the idea in 1678. It has since become an important concept in the study of wave phenomena in various fields of science, including physics, optics, and acoustics.

3. How does Huygen's principle explain the behavior of waves?

Huygen's principle provides a simple way to visualize how waves propagate through a medium. By considering each point on a wave front as a source of secondary wavelets, it explains how waves can bend, diffract, and interfere with each other as they travel through different mediums or encounter obstacles.

4. Is Huygen's principle applicable to all types of waves?

Yes, Huygen's principle is a universal concept that applies to all types of waves, including electromagnetic waves, sound waves, and water waves. It can also be extended to explain the behavior of other types of wave-like phenomena, such as quantum particles.

5. What are some real-world applications of Huygen's principle?

Huygen's principle has many practical applications, such as in the design of lenses and mirrors for optics, the study of diffraction patterns in sound and light, and the prediction of wave behavior in ocean and atmospheric waves. It has also been used in the development of radar technology and in understanding the properties of light in modern physics.

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