Huygen's principle

Definition

Huygen's principle states that every point on a wavefront can be considered as a source of secondary spherical waves that spread out in all directions. These secondary waves then combine to form new wavefronts.

Related terms

Wavefront: A wavefront is an imaginary surface representing points in space where all particles of a wave are in phase (have identical positions within their respective cycles).

Diffraction:

Diffraction refers to how waves bend or spread out when they encounter obstacles or pass through narrow openings.

Constructive interference: Constructive interference occurs when two or more waves combine to create larger amplitudes, resulting in increased intensity at certain points.