Concept explainers
If Huygens’s principle applies to sound wave and water waves.
Answer to Problem 1Q
Huygens’s principle applies to all kind of waves including sound wave and water waves.
Explanation of Solution
Huygen’s principle states that every point on a wave front can be considered as a tine source of wavelets and these wavelets travel at the speed of wave. Moreover the new wavefront formed is the envelope of wavelets.
From this principle the new position of wavelet is determined from the tangent drawn from the rings. From this principle every wavelet acts as a secondary source for next wavelets. As the result this principle is applicable to all kind waves.
Both sound waves and water waves have particles which act as wavelets to propagate wave in forward direction. Hence, both water waves and sound waves follow Huygen’s principle.
Conclusion:
Thus, Huygens’s principle applies to all kind of waves including sound wave and water waves.
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Chapter 34 Solutions
Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Chaps 1-38)