1.

Newtons Corpuscular Theory: Newton was the first scientist to put forward the theory of light called the
corpuscular theory of light. According to this theory it was assumed that
i. Light consists of a stream of small, weightless, invisible particles called
corpuscles which travel away from the source at a tremendous speed
ii. The corpuscles travel in straight lines.
iii.
Corpuscles of different colours are of different size.
iv. They produce sensation of light when they fall on retina of the eye.
v. When a corpuscle approaches a surface, separating two optical media it produces
in ether vibrations, phase of which decides its reflection or refraction. Thus
corpuscles are subject to fit (strong mood) of easy reflection or transmission.
vi. Under a fit of easy reflection a corpuscles is repelled (like bouncing of ball from
a surface) by the denser medium.
vii. Under a fit of easy reflection a corpuscles is attracted by a denser medium in a
direction normal to the surface separating the optical media. Thus a corpuscle travels
in a denser media with increased velocity.
viii.
Simultaneous refraction and reflection from a transparent medium is due to fits
of corpuscles. Some corpuscles are under fit of easy transmission while others are
under fit of reflection.
ix. uk
The rectilinear propagation of light is due to the high velocity of the particles, in a
homogeneous medium. In the case of reflection of a corpuscle, the component of velocity
normal to the surface is reversed due to repulsion, the parallel component remaining
unchanged. So angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.

To explain refraction from rarer to denser medium it was assumed that the
interface PQ has a small region of influence from RS to R S (Fig. ). Let the velocity
of corpuscles in air be v1 and that in glass be v 2 . During the process of transmission a
corpuscle experiences a force of attraction. So its normal component of velocity is
increased gradually from A to B, but from the planes RS to R S the parallel component
of velocity remains unchanged. Due to increase of the normal component, the velocity of
the corpuscle in glass v 2 would become greater than v1 in air.
As the parallel components of velocity are equal, Thus Newtons assumptions
showed that the velocity of light in the denser medium should be greater than the velocity
of light in the rarer medium. This prediction was contradicted by Focault whose
experiment showed it that velocity of light in an optically denser medium is less than that
in a rarer medium. This gave a death blow to this theory. This theory could not explain
interference, diffraction, polarization etc.

2. Wave Theory.
Huygens-Fresnel Wave Theory: Wave theory of light was formed by Christian Huygens, and modified by Fresnel.
It is also called solid elastic medium theory, because space was considered to have ether
with properties of an elastic solid, having elasticity and inertia.
Assumptions:
(a) Light is propagated in the form of mechanical waves from source to the observer.
(b) Huygens thought that mechanical waves are longitudinal in nature, but Fresnel
pointed out that polarization can be explained by assuming light as transverse
waves. So he asserted that light waves are transverse in nature.
(c) For the propagation of these waves it was supposed that there is medium called
luminiferous ether which pervades the whole universe from interstellar space to
inter-atomic spaces.
The tremendous velocity of light was explained by supposing that the
luminiferous ether is an elastic solid with very large rigidity E and very low
density, , so that
v

For velocity of light

the ether requires, say, modulus of

rigidity E 9 10 dynes sq. cms. and density 109 gms c.c.
(d) Different colours are due to different wavelengths of the waves. In other words
waves of different wavelengths produce different colour sensations of sight.
(e) During the process of propagation each ether particle acts as new (secondary)
source of light, emitting its own set of spherical waves.
With the help of this theory Huygens explained reflection, refraction,
dispersion, interference, and Fresnel explained diffraction and polarization. The
prediction of wave theory that the velocity of light in denser medium is less than
that in rarer medium was verified by the experiment of Focault.
A serious drawback of this theory was the fantastic nature of medium
luminiferous ether.
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3. dhjdf
4. djd
5.

3 1010 cm sec