Wavefront (Noun)
Meaning
(physics) an imaginary surface joining all points in space that are reached at the same instant by a wave propagating through a medium.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The wavefront of a light wave is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
- The wavefront of a sound wave is a surface of constant phase, where every point on the surface has the same pressure and velocity.
- In optics, the wavefront of a light wave is often used to describe the shape of the wave as it emerges from a lens or mirror.
- The curvature of a wavefront can be used to determine the focal length of a lens or mirror.
- A planar wavefront is a wavefront that is flat, or has no curvature, and is often used to describe waves that are propagating through a homogeneous medium.