Young, first showed that diffraction of light waves occurs. Thomas Young conducted the double-slit experiment in the early 19th century, demonstrating interference patterns that confirmed light’s wave nature. This experiment provided fundamental evidence for the wave theory of light, showing how light waves diffract and interfere, laying the groundwork for modern optics.
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The first person to demonstrate that diffraction of light waves occurs was Young (Option [B]). Thomas Young, an English scientist, conducted the famous double-slit experiment in the early 19th century. In this experiment, he observed interference patterns produced by light passing through two closely spaced slits, providing direct evidence of light behaving as a wave. Diffraction patterns formed when light waves passed through small openings or around edges, demonstrating wave-like characteristics such as interference and diffraction.
Option [A], Gramaldi, is not associated with contributions to optics or light phenomena. Option [C], Maxwell, formulated Maxwell’s equations describing electromagnetism. Option [D], Foucault, made significant contributions to optics and physics, but he is known for his work on the speed of light and pendulum experiments.
Therefore, Thomas Young’s double-slit experiment established the phenomenon of light diffraction, crucial in demonstrating that light exhibits wave properties, laying the groundwork for the wave theory of light and advancing our understanding of optics and wave behavior.