THEORIES OF LIGHT

Physical optics is a branch of optics which deals with nature of light, mechanism of its
production, emission and propagation through space. It deals with the phenomenon of
Interference, Diffraction and Polarization of light.
From the experimental observations, it is evident that light is form of energy.
Basically, there are two methods of transfer of energy.
(i) by stream of particle movement
(ii) by means of wave motion
Based on these modes of transfer of energy
(i) Corpuscular theory was proposed by Newton
(ii) Wave theory was proposed by Huygen,
(iii) Electromagnetic theory was proposed by Maxwell and
(iv) Quantum theory was proposed by Max planck
I

Newton Corpuscular Theory (1675):

The Corpuscular theory of light was proposed by Newton in 1675. According

to him, light being a form of energy can be transported in the form of particles called
Corpuscles which are shot by a luminous object giving out light.
I.
Luminous body continuously emit tiny, spherical, small, massless, elastic particles
and he called them corpuscles, in all directions, with a high speed.(Object whether matchstick
or burning sun).
II.
These corpuscles travel in straight lines.
III.
They readily pass through interspaces of matter.
IV.
Different colours of light rectilinear propagation, reflection of light. But failed to
explain interference, diffraction, polarization, colours of thin films etc.
II

Huygens Wave Theory:

According to this theory, light is a form of energy which advances in the form
of wave motion. The source of light is a sort of disturbance.(Consisting of simple Harmonic
disturbance like sound). Huygen assumed that light waves are longitudinal in nature. Now
just as sound needs a material medium for its propagation, light was also given a medium
through which it travels. This medium was called ETHER. Since light travels in vacuum,
ether was supposed to fill all space including vacuum. This ether was supposed to be
massless, colourless, invisible medium having high elasticity and practically no density.
This theory could explain reflection, refraction, total internal reflection, double
refraction etc. But failed to explain diffraction, polarization etc. Also, experimentally proved
the non-existence of ether.
III.

Electro-magnetic Theory:

Maxwell proved that light gets propagated in the form of electromagnetic

waves. It consists of electric and magnetic fields which are at right angles to each other and
transverse to the direction of propagation of light. The alternately expanding and collapsing
1

magnetic and electric fields propagate in space with a velocity of 3 108 ms1 . Thus the
difficulties of ether were removed.
This theory satisfactorily explained reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction,
polarization etc. But it could not explain photoelectric effect, Raman effect, emission of light,
x-rays, Compton effect etc.
IV.

Quantum Theory:

According to this theory, light exhibits particle nature. Planck proposed this
theory to explain the black body radiation. According to him, light is made up of energy
packets called photons. Each photon carries an energy E = h where h is called plancks
constant 6.625 1034 JS and is the frequency of radiation. A photon has no rest mass, it has
momentum, hence we say that they exhibit particle nature.
This theory could explain photoelectric effect, Raman effect, Compton effect etc. But
it could not explain interference, diffraction etc.

Dual Nature of Light:

Certain observed phenomena such as reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction,
polarization etc can be explained only if we assume light to be of wave nature. In other
words, light exhibits wave nature in these experiments.
Phenomena like emission, photoelectric effect etc can be explained only by assuming
light to be a particle.
Hence we conclude that light exhibits both wave nature and particle nature, it exhibits
dual nature in other words.