Ray Theory

Ray theory is a way to understand how waves, like sound or seismic waves, travel through different materials. It simplifies the complex way waves spread out into straight lines called "rays," which follow the paths of least resistance or fastest travel. By studying these rays, scientists can predict how waves move, reflect, refract, or bend when they pass through varying substances. This approach is useful in fields like geology, acoustics, and seismology for analyzing wave behavior without solving complicated wave equations directly.