Huygens’ wave theory of light [Christiaan Huygens (1629-95), Dutch physicist] :

1. Light emitted by a source propagates in the form of waves. Huygens’ original theory assumed them to be longitudinal waves. 

2. In a homogeneous isotropic medium, light from a point source spreads by spherical waves. 

3. It was presumed that a wave motion needed a medium for its propagation. Hence, the theory postulated a medium called luminiferous ether that exists everywhere, in vacuum as well as in transparent bodies. Ether had to be assigned some extraordinary properties, a high modulus of elasticity (to account for the high speed of light), zero density (so that it offers no resistance to planetary motion) and perfect transparency.

4. The different colours of light are due to different wavelengths.

Merits :

1. Huygens’ wave theory satisfactorily explains reflection and refraction as well as their simultaneity. 

2. In explaining refraction, the theory concludes that the speed of light in a denser medium is less than that in a rarer medium, in agreement with experimental findings. 

3. The theory was later used by Young in 1800-04, Fraunhofer and Fresnel in 1814 to satisfactorily explain interference, diffraction and rectilinear propagation of light. The phenomenon of polarization could also be explained considering the light waves to be transverse.

Demerits :

1. It was found much later that the hypothetical medium, luminiferous ether, has no experimental basis. Einstein discarded the idea of ether completely in 1905. 

2. Phenomena like absorption and emission of light, photoelectric effect and Compton effect, cannot be explained on the basis of the wave theory.

[Note: To decide between the particle and wave theories of light, Dominique Francois Jean Arago (1786-1853), French physicist, suggested the measurement of the speed of light in air and water. The experiment was performed in 1850 by Leon Foucault (1819- 68), French physicist, using Arago’s experimental equipment. He found that the speed of light in water is less than that in air.]