MONOCHROMATIC WAVE

&
PLANE WAVE
WHAT IS MONOCHROMATIC WAVE?
• A monochromatic wave is defined as a continuous wave with a constant frequency. This means the wave has a
constant wavelength and does not change over space or time.
• This type of wave can be observed in various scenarios; for example, a red laser beam, a tuning fork producing
a specific note, are monochromatic waves.

Physics is a branch of science that is enriched with numerous concepts. One such concepts are the mono-chromatic &
plane waves.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MONOCHROMATIC WAVE
Monochromatic waves possess various distinctive characteristics. Here are a few fundamental ones:
• Frequency:
The frequency of a monochromatic wave is constant and unchanging.
• Wavelength:
These waves feature a consistent wavelength, which is the distance from one peak of the wave to the next.
• Energy:
The energy of a monochromatic wave is directly proportional to its frequency. This can be represented by the
equation E = hf where E stands for energy, h stands for Planck's constant, and f is the frequency.
COMPLEXITY OF MONOCHROMATIC PLANE WAVES
• As you delve further into the expansive world of wave physics, you'll stumble upon an intriguing concept, the
monochromatic plane wave. This is a particular type of wave that can appear complex but is beautifully simple
when concisely analysed.
• A monochromatic plane wave combines the properties of a monochromatic wave and a plane wave. It has an
unchanging frequency and its wave-fronts are infinite, parallel planes.
PLANE WAVE
Plane waves are a special case of waves where a physical quantity, such as phase, is constant over a plane that is
perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. There can be mechanical (both transverse and longitudinal) as well
as EM plane waves.
It should be noted that EM plane waves are only transverse. A visualization of a plane wave is shown below.
Just like periodic waves, plane waves have a wavelength, frequency, and wave speed.
EXPLANATION ABOUT PLANE WAVE
When EM waves radiate from a source, such as an antenna, they radiate as spherical waves (see the figure
below). As the waves move farther from the source, their energy gets spread out over a bigger spherical surface
area. At big distances, which we call the far-field, a spherical wave front can be approximated as a uniform plane
wave over a defined area.