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Theoretically they do

Not theoretically, they do travel in waves.

See my answer here:

Do_light_waves_travel_in_straight_paths_called_rays

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Wiki User

14y ago
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Wiki User

12y ago

Sort of. They travel in geodesic curves. It just so happens that except near large concentrations of mass, geodesic curves are close enough to straight lines that you can generally treat them as if they were straight lines.

Near very massive objects, geodesics get bent, which is why gravitational lensing works. The Sun is massive enough to bend space detectably, and people making very careful measurements have actually observed these curved geodesics affecting light rays travelling very near the Sun.

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15y ago

No, light waves don't always travel in a straight line although they do move away from a source in a straight line
Magnetic forces and other kind of interference have the ability to bend and refract light waves; such as black holes.

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Light does not travel in wavy lines, sound travels in wavy lines.

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dave GL

Lvl 1
3y ago
Light travels as a wave. Sound
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dave GL

Lvl 1
3y ago
Sound propagates in compression fronts.

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AnswerBot

7mo ago

Yes, light rays travel in straight lines in a uniform medium, such as air or vacuum. This principle is known as the law of rectilinear propagation of light.

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15y ago

in a way it does. no light travels in straight lines but it can bounce off mirrors and things like that

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12y ago

When reflecting through objects like optic fibers path is zigzag.

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11y ago

Visible light is emitted and absorbed in tiny "packets" called photons, and exhibits properties of both waves and particles. This property is referred to as the wave-particle duality.

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dave GL

Lvl 2
3y ago

Yes light travels as waves.

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Q: Do light rays travel in straight lines?
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What helps to show light rays travel in straight lines?

The phenomenon of shadows is a demonstration that light rays travel in straight lines. When an object is placed in the path of light, it blocks the light rays traveling to the surface behind it, creating a shadow. The distinct edge of the shadow shows that light travels in straight lines.


Who discovered that light travels in straight line?

The principle that light travels in straight lines was first proposed by the ancient Greek philosopher Euclid in his work "Optics." Euclid's ideas were further developed by Islamic scientist Ibn al-Haytham in the 11th century, who is often credited with the discovery that light travels in straight lines.


Some fast do light rays travel?

Yes, they travel some fast!


X-rays travel in vacuum at a higher speed than the visible light?

Yes, X-rays travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, which is higher than the speed of visible light. This is because the speed of light in a medium is inversely proportional to the refractive index of the medium, and X-rays have a shorter wavelength than visible light, allowing them to travel at a higher speed.


How fast do x rays travel through a vacuum?

X-rays are a kind of electromagnetic radiation - similar to light. They travel at the speed of light through a vacuum - about 300 million meters/second.X-rays are a kind of electromagnetic radiation - similar to light. They travel at the speed of light through a vacuum - about 300 million meters/second.X-rays are a kind of electromagnetic radiation - similar to light. They travel at the speed of light through a vacuum - about 300 million meters/second.X-rays are a kind of electromagnetic radiation - similar to light. They travel at the speed of light through a vacuum - about 300 million meters/second.

Related questions

Why do light rays travel in straight lines?

Light rays travel in straight lines due to the principle of the shortest path, known as Fermat's principle. Light travels along the path that minimizes the time it takes to travel from one point to another. This results in light rays following straight lines in a uniform medium.


How do light rays travel light ray?

Light rays travel in straight lines called rays or beams. They propagate by transferring energy and momentum through particles or fields, such as photons in a vacuum or electromagnetic waves in a medium. Light rays can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed when interacting with different materials.


What helps to show light rays travel in straight lines?

The phenomenon of shadows is a demonstration that light rays travel in straight lines. When an object is placed in the path of light, it blocks the light rays traveling to the surface behind it, creating a shadow. The distinct edge of the shadow shows that light travels in straight lines.


How does light rays always travel?

Light rays always travel in straight lines in a medium with a uniform refractive index. This is known as the principle of rectilinear propagation of light. However, in mediums with varying refractive indices or when interacting with surfaces, light rays can bend, reflect, or refract.


What do all rays of light have in common?

All rays of light are a form of electromagnetic radiation that travel in straight lines at a constant speed in a vacuum, and they can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed.


Why can you represent light rays using a ruler?

Because light rays travel in straight line just like a ruler/scale. We can represent it with anything which is straight like a ruler...


What does the sun's rays shine in a straight line?

the travel in straight lines because of the atomsphe


Light travels in sraight lines that we call?

Light travels in straight lines that we call rays.


How does sunlight breaking through the clouds demonstrate how light rays travel in?

Sunlight breaking through the clouds shows how light rays travel in straight lines. When sunlight hits gaps in the clouds, it continues in a straight path towards Earth, creating visible beams of light. This phenomenon is a good example of how light travels in straight lines until it encounters an obstacle or medium that may cause it to bend or scatter.


How does light ray travel?

Light rays travel in a straight line unless they are refracted or reflected by a medium. This straight path is known as rectilinear propagation. Light rays can also be bent when passing through different mediums with varying optical densities.


How do you use light rays in a sentence?

Light rays are electromagnetic waves that travel in straight lines. In photography, the angle of incoming light rays affects the exposure of the image. Light rays can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed depending on the surface they come into contact with.


How are rays of light produced?

Rays of light are produced when electromagnetic radiation, in the form of photons, are emitted or reflected from a light source such as the sun or a lightbulb. These photons travel in straight lines until they encounter a medium or surface that causes them to change direction, creating the perception of light rays.