Physics · Glossary

What is Wavefront?

Definition 20.19 High School Physics · Chapter 20 — Mechanical Waves

A wavefront is a line (or surface) of points that the wave reaches at the same instant — a crest line on the pond. From a point source the wavefronts are expanding circles; far from any source they are nearly straight. The wave propagates perpendicular to its wavefronts, successive crests λ\lambda apart.

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