Understanding Rectilinear Propagation
The principle that light travels in a straight line is known as rectilinear propagation. This is a fundamental property of light in a uniform medium, such as air or a vacuum.
Key Points
- Light rays travel in straight-line paths unless they encounter a different medium or are acted upon by a force, like gravity.
- This property explains everyday phenomena like the formation of shadows and eclipses.
- It is the principle behind simple devices like pinhole cameras and sundials.