Question

Which of the following phenomena support the wave theory of light?
a) Scattering
b) Interference
c) Diffraction
d) Velocity of light in denser medium is less than the velocity of light at rarer medium.
A) (a), (b), (c)
B) (a), (b), (d)
C) (b), (c), (d)
D) (a), (c), (d)

Answer 1

Hint: There are many different theories of light that are defined for explaining different phenomena of light. Wave theory of light explains the phenomena of interference, diffraction, scattering, dispersion, polarisation etc.

Complete solution:
Around 1700, it was concluded by Newton that light was a group of particles. It was called corpuscular theory. There were other scholars around the same time who thought that light might not be a collection of particles. It might be a wave.It was called the weave theory. The straight path of light is the reason for Newton thinking that light is a collection of particles emitted from a source of light or reflected from a body. However, the wave-like phenomena such as diffraction and interference cannot be explained by the corpuscular theory. Similarly the wave theory cannot explain the emission of electrons on the exposure of metal surfaces to light.. In this manner, the great physicists have continued to debate and demonstrate the true nature of light over the centuries.
Wave theory is a framework for studying and understanding the scattering of waves and particles. Wave scattering corresponds to the collision and scattering of a wave with some material object, for instance sunlight scattered by rain drops to form a rainbow.
Interference is a phenomenon in which two waves superpose to form a resultant wave of greater, lower, or the same amplitude. Constructive and destructive interference result from the interaction of waves that are correlated or coherent with each other, either because they come from the same source or because they have the same or nearly the same frequency. This phenomena is very difficult to explain by corpuscular or particle theory of light.
Velocity of light in a denser medium is less than the velocity of light at a rarer medium can be explained by particle theory of waves. Due to this we saw a phenomena called refraction, which was explained by particle theory of light.

Note: Wave theory of light says the light propagates in a form of wave, in which waves have a particular wavelength, frequency, and specific behaviour. There is also a dual nature theory of light given by Huygens to understand photoelectric effects etc.