Answer: Secondary wavelets.
- A Secondary wavelets
- B Primary rays
- C Photons
- D Interference fringes
Correct answer: A. Secondary wavelets
Explanation: Huygens' principle: every point on a wavefront serves as a source of secondary spherical wavelets. The new wavefront is the envelope of all these secondary wavelets.
Two coherent slits S₁ and S₂ act as secondary sources; at each point on the screen, the path difference between light from S₁ and S₂ determines whether the waves arrive in phase (bright fringe) or out of phase (dark fringe), producing the characteristic alternating fringe pattern.
Concept context
Huygens principle, Young's double slit, diffraction, polarization. Essential for JEE.