Difference between newton’s corpuscular and huygens wave theory
The Newton corpuscular theory and Huygens wave theory both theories gives the explanation of the nature of light. According to Huygens wave theory the light was made up of wave not a particle. But by the prism experiment considered by Newton’s corpuscular theory it is clear that light has small particles. Actually light shows both nature due to the photons light wave as well as particle nature. According to Newton the corpuscular are perfectly elastic. The difference between them is as follows.
Newton’s corpuscular theory |
Huygens wave theory |
1) According to Newton’s corpuscular theory white light consists of many colour i.e colored light which get separated in a prism or in glass.
2) According to Newton light consist of very tiny particles know as corpuscular. 3) When light particles emitted from the light source then they travel in straight line with high velocity. 4) When the light enters in the eyes they produce image of the object or sensation of the vision. 5) Corpuscular of different colours have different size. 6) The reflection and refraction of light is due to repulsive and attractive forces. 7) Fails to explain the phenomenon of interference, diffraction and polarization of light. |
1) According to Huygens do experiment with calcite crystal which showed the double refraction so he proposed his wave theory and polarized light.
2) According to Huygens light propagate in the form of wave. 3) When light emitted from the light source then they travel in straight line with uniform velocity through homogenous medium. 4) When the light enters in the eyes they creates an optical impression on the retinaretina so we get the sensation of the light. 5) The different colour is due to different wavelength of light waves. 6) The reflection and refraction of light is due to the construction of the secondary wavefront s. 7) It explains the phenomenon of interference, diffraction and polarization of light. |
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