Rectilinear Propagation of Light

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Rectilinear Propagation of Light
Application of Rectilinear Propagation of Light
Eclipse
Solar Eclipse
Eclipse of the Moon/Lunar Eclipse
Annular Eclipse of the Sun
Pinhole Camera

This is a phenomenon showing that light travels in a straight line.

This is demonstrated using three cardboards with a hole at their centres. The cardboards are arranged such that the holes are in a straight line. A light source is placed at one end to be on straight lines with the holes in the cardboard when observed from the other end.

If the middle cardboard hole is displaced and does not fall in a straight line with the other two, the light rays will no longer be visible when viewed from the other end.

Application of Rectilinear Propagation of Light:

Shadow: a shadow is a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object.

A point source of light produces a sharp shadow while a large source of light produces a shadow made up of:

(i) the area of total darkness called the umbra , not reached by light.

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(ii) an area of partial shadow called penumbra which receives some light rays.