4.3 Diffraction of Waves 6/9 Flashcards
(6 cards)
1
Q
What happens to a wave when it arrives at a boundary with a slit that’s the size of its wavelength?
A
Diffraction
Diffraction is the process by which a wave bends around the corners of a narrow gap or an obstacle. ALL WAVES DIFFRACT.
2
Q
What happens when parallel waves pass through a slit that is 3x wider than their wavelength?
A
The waves pass straight through with no diffraction
3
Q
What happens when parallel waves pass through a slit that is small?
A
They bend around the corners.
(This is called DIFFRACTION)
4
Q
What slit size would give maximum diffraction (bending) for a wave?
A
A slit size is the SAME SIZE as the wavelength
5
Q
As slit size decreases, does diffraction increase or decrease?
A
Increase
6
Q
A
