wavefront

[weyv-fruhnt]

wavefront Definition

• 1. an imaginary surface passing through points of a wave that have the same phase and amplitude at any given instant
• 2. the front of an advancing wave

Using wavefront: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "wavefront" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The wavefront of the light beam is perpendicular to its direction of propagation.

• Example

  The wavefronts of the ocean waves were visible from the shore.

• Example

  The wavefronts of the sound waves determine the loudness and pitch of the sound.

wavefront Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for wavefront

• wave surface
• wave front

Phrases with wavefront

• planar wavefront

  a wavefront that is flat or planar, with all points on the wavefront being equidistant from the source

  Example

  The laser beam produces a planar wavefront that is ideal for holography.

• spherical wavefront

  a wavefront that is spherical in shape, with all points on the wavefront being equidistant from the source

  Example

  The sound waves produced by a point source have a spherical wavefront.

• circular wavefront

  a wavefront that is circular in shape, with all points on the wavefront being equidistant from the source

  Example

  The ripples on the surface of a pond form circular wavefronts around the point where a stone was thrown.

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Summary: wavefront in Brief

'Wavefront' [weyv-fruhnt] refers to an imaginary surface that passes through points of a wave having the same phase and amplitude at any given instant. It can also refer to the front of an advancing wave. Examples include the wavefront of a light beam, ocean waves, and sound waves. 'Wavefront' can be planar, spherical, or circular, depending on the shape of the wave.