Question:
According to Huygen’s wave theory of light, which one of the following statements is not correct?
According to Huygen’s wave theory of light, which one of the following statements is not correct?
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Huygen's wave theory is key in explaining reflection, refraction, and diffraction, where the wavelength of light determines its colour and speed.
Updated On: Jun 30, 2026
- Different colours of light are due to different wavelengths of waves.
- Different colours of light are due to different sizes of the corpuscles.
- Speed of light in denser medium is less than that in rarer medium.
- It can explain laws of reflection and refraction.
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding Huygen’s wave theory of light.
Huygen’s wave theory states that light behaves as a wave. According to this theory, every point on a wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets, and the new position of the wavefront is the envelope of these secondary wavelets. The theory can explain phenomena such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
Step 2: Explanation of each option.
- (A) Different colours of light are due to different wavelengths of waves. This is correct according to Huygen’s wave theory. The wavelength of light determines its colour. For example, red light has a longer wavelength, and violet light has a shorter wavelength.
- (B) Different colours of light are due to different sizes of the corpuscles. This statement is not correct. According to Huygen’s theory, the colour of light is determined by its wavelength, not the size of the corpuscles (which was an earlier particle theory of light). The corpuscle theory was later replaced by the wave theory, which does not involve the size of corpuscles.
- (C) Speed of light in denser medium is less than that in rarer medium. This is correct. According to Huygen’s theory, light travels slower in a denser medium and faster in a rarer medium, which is consistent with the phenomenon of refraction.
- (D) It can explain laws of reflection and refraction.
This is correct. Huygen’s theory successfully explains both the laws of reflection and refraction, including how the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, and how light bends when passing from one medium to another.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The incorrect statement is option (B), as it relates to an outdated particle model, not the wave model explained by Huygen’s theory.
Final Answer:
Thus, the statement that is not correct according to Huygen’s wave theory is:
\[ \boxed{\text{(B) Different colours of light are due to different sizes of the corpuscles.}}. \]
Huygen’s wave theory states that light behaves as a wave. According to this theory, every point on a wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets, and the new position of the wavefront is the envelope of these secondary wavelets. The theory can explain phenomena such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
Step 2: Explanation of each option.
- (A) Different colours of light are due to different wavelengths of waves. This is correct according to Huygen’s wave theory. The wavelength of light determines its colour. For example, red light has a longer wavelength, and violet light has a shorter wavelength.
- (B) Different colours of light are due to different sizes of the corpuscles. This statement is not correct. According to Huygen’s theory, the colour of light is determined by its wavelength, not the size of the corpuscles (which was an earlier particle theory of light). The corpuscle theory was later replaced by the wave theory, which does not involve the size of corpuscles.
- (C) Speed of light in denser medium is less than that in rarer medium. This is correct. According to Huygen’s theory, light travels slower in a denser medium and faster in a rarer medium, which is consistent with the phenomenon of refraction.
- (D) It can explain laws of reflection and refraction.
This is correct. Huygen’s theory successfully explains both the laws of reflection and refraction, including how the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, and how light bends when passing from one medium to another.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The incorrect statement is option (B), as it relates to an outdated particle model, not the wave model explained by Huygen’s theory.
Final Answer:
Thus, the statement that is not correct according to Huygen’s wave theory is:
\[ \boxed{\text{(B) Different colours of light are due to different sizes of the corpuscles.}}. \]
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