Home
Class 8
PHYSICS
Which path is followed by light while tr...

Which path is followed by light while travel-ling in a medium?

A

Circular

B

Parabolic

C

Rectilinear

D

Cylindrical

Text Solution

AI Generated Solution

The correct Answer is:
**Step-by-Step Solution:** 1. **Understanding the Nature of Light:** - Light is known to travel in a straight line. This is a fundamental property of light that we learn from a young age. 2. **Defining a Medium:** - A medium is any substance through which light can travel. Common examples include air, water, and glass. 3. **Light Traveling in a Medium:** - When light travels through a medium (like air or glass), it continues to follow its straight-line path. This is known as rectilinear propagation. 4. **Refraction Phenomenon:** - When light passes from one medium to another (for example, from air into glass), it may bend at the interface between the two. This bending of light is called refraction. - However, even when light bends, it still travels in straight lines within each medium. 5. **Conclusion:** - Therefore, the path followed by light while traveling in a medium is straight, which can be referred to as rectilinear propagation. **Final Answer:** The path followed by light while traveling in a medium is a straight line (rectilinear propagation). ---
Doubtnut Promotions Banner Mobile Dark
|

Topper's Solved these Questions

  • LIGHT

    PEARSON IIT JEE FOUNDATION|Exercise CLASSROOM CORNER (C. Long Answer Type Questions )|15 Videos

  • KINEMATICS

    PEARSON IIT JEE FOUNDATION|Exercise CONCEPT APPLICATION (Level 3) (Application Based Questions ) |5 Videos

  • MAGNETISM

    PEARSON IIT JEE FOUNDATION|Exercise CONCEPT APPLICATION (Level 3)|4 Videos

Similar Questions

Explore conceptually related problems

The ray diagrams given below show the paths of a ray of light travelling from a medium Minto different media 1, 2 and 3. (a) In which of three media 1, 2 or 3 does light travel: (i) faster, (ii) slower than in medium M? (b) Arrange the media 1, 2 and 3 in descending order of (i) speed of light through them, (ii) their refractive index.

How does wavelength and frequency of a monochromatic light changes while travelling from one medium to another ?

Knowledge Check

  • Fig. shows a surface XY separating two transparent media, medium 1 and medium 2. Lines ab and cd represent wavefronts of a light wave travelling in medium 1 and incident on XY. Line ef and gh represent wavefront of the light wave in medium 2 after rafraciton. Light travel as a

    A
    parallel beam in each medium
    B
    convergent beam in each medium
    C
    divergent beam in each medium
    D
    divergent beam in one medium and convergent beam in the other medium

  • If c is the velocity of light in free space, then the time taken by light to travel a distance x in a medium refractive index mu is

    A
    `(x)/(2)`
    B
    `(mux)//(c )`
    C
    `(x)//(muc)`
    D
    `(c )//(mux)`

  • If c is the velocity of light in free space, the time taken by light to travel a distance x in a medium refractive index mu is

    A
    `(x)/(c)`
    B
    `(mux)/(c)`
    C
    `(x)/(muc)`
    D
    `(c)/(mux)`

    • Similar Questions

    Explore conceptually related problems

    What happens to the frequency, wavelength and speed of a light beam travelling from rarer medium to denser medium ?

    The figure shows a surface XY separating two transparent media, medium-1 and medium-2. The lines ab and cd represent wavefronts of a light wave traveling in medium-1 and incident on XY. The lines ef and gh represent wavefronts of the light wave in medium-2 after refraction. Speed of light is

    Fig. shows a surface XY separating two transparent media, medium 1 and medium 2. Lines ab and cd represent wavefronts of a light wave travelling in medium 1 and incident on XY. Line ef and gh represent wavefront of the light wave in medium 2 after rafraciton. Speed of light is

    The figure shows a surface XY separating two transparent media, medium - 1 and medium - 2. The lines ab and cd represent wavefronts of the light ab and cd represent wavefronts of the light wave travelling in medium-1 and incident on XY. The lines of ef and gh represent wavefronts of the light wave in medium - 2 after refraction. Answer the following question : Light travels as a :

    The path along which light travels in a homogenous medium is called the

    Home
    Profile