Which optical mechanism allowed Alhazen (Ibn al-Haytham) to experimentally demonstrate rectilinear propagation of light using pinhole setups?

💡 Explanation

When light passes through a pinhole, rectilinear propagation causes the light rays from each point in the object to travel in straight lines, converging to form an inverted image on the opposite surface because of geometric constraints. Therefore focused inverted images confirm light's straight path, rather than refraction, reflection, or diffraction depending on wave properties or interface conditions.

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