Question

Huygens’ wave theory of light cannot explain
A. diffraction phenomenon
B. interference phenomenon
C. photoelectric effect
D. polarization of light
E. propagation of light

Answer 1

Hint: Light consists of both waves and particles. There are various phenomena which can be explained on the basis of wave nature of light, while there are some other phenomena which can be explained by particle nature of light. Since, Huygens’ wave theory tells us about only the wave nature of light, therefore, out of the given options the phenomenon caused by the particle nature of light cannot be explained by Huygens’ theory.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Now, from the question
Since, the photoelectric effect is caused by the particle's nature of light, therefore, Huygens' theory fails to explain it. Remaining four phenomena i.e., diffraction, interference, polarization and propagation are all based on the wave nature of light. Thus, can easily be explained by Huygens’ theory.
The correct option is C.

Note: You may be aware of the rectilinear theory of light that purports that light travels along straight paths. The principle may be a method of study applied to problems of wave propagation both within the far-field limit and in near-field diffraction and also reflection. It states that:
Every point on a wavefront is itself the source of spherical wavelets. The sum of those spherical wavelets forms the wavefront. Huygens stated that light may be a wave that propagates through space very similar to ripples in water or sound in air. Hence, light opened up sort of a wave alongside all directions from a source. The locus of points that traveled a long way during a hard and fast interval is named a wavefront. Thus, from some extent source of sunshine , the locus of points that light has traveled during a hard and fast period of time may be a sphere (a circle if you think about a 2D source).Secondly, every point on the wavefront acts as a secondary source of sunshine that emits more wavefronts. Internet effect is that the effective wavefront generated is tangential to all or any the secondary wavefronts generated by the secondary sources as shown within the figure. During this way, a light-weight wave propagates through space by generating secondary sources and wavefronts. The direction of the traverse is usually perpendicular to the wavefronts.