Question

According to Huygens, the ether medium pervading the entire universe is
A. Less elastic and denser.
B. Highly elastic and less dense.
C. Not elastic
D. Much heavier.

Answer 1

Huygen was a Dutch mathematician who gave a theory regarding the nature of light in 1678. According to Huygen light is a kind of disturbance and propagates in a wave-like motion. Few properties of light can be explained with this wave-like characteristic of light.

Complete answer:
By considering the wave motion of the light some basic properties of light can be explained such as rectilinear propagation of light, reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction and polarization. But the photoelectric effect cannot be explained with this theory.

Ether is also known as ‘Luminiferous aether’. This was introduced to explain the propagation of wave-based light in space. Ether is considered as an invisible and infinitely extended material with no interaction with the physical objects. The existence of either was quite debatable throughout history.

The ether medium was ideally supposed to be a highly elastic and less dense medium so that the light can travel through it with the least efforts.

So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note:
When there was a negative outcome of the Michelson-Morley experiment in 1887. It was suggested that Ether does not exist. This was confirmed in the 1920s. But there was no theory to replace the theory of ether. After this dual character of light was proposed. The light is considered to be wave-like and particle-like for the explanation of different properties as per the requirement.