Diffraction and Interference

Question 1

What is diffraction?

Answer 1

Is the bending of waves as they pass the edge of an aperture.

Question 2

Factors that affect diffraction:

Answer 2

• Higher wavelength (lower ƒ) = higher diffraction
• Smaller aperture = higher diffraction

Question 3

Applications of Diffractions:

Answer 3

• Echolocations in marine animals to detect objects.
• Ultrasound frequencies used in medical imaging

Question 4

Superposition:

Answer 4

When two waves coexist in one place in the same medium, the resulting wave is the sum of the individual waves.

Question 5

Complex Sounds:

Answer 5

Created through superposition and is when a wave has varying amplitudes.

Question 6

Interference:

Answer 6

Is the result of superposition and can either be destructive or constructive.
- Destructive will have lower amplitude
- Constructive will have greater amplitude

Question 7

Interference in transverse waves:

Answer 7

• Constructive interference - particles are pushed in the same direction.
• Destructive Interference - particles are pushed in the opposite direction

Question 8

Interference in longitudinal Waves:

Answer 8

• Constructive interference - compression regions are compressed even more
• Destructive interference - Rarefaction regions are compressed

Question 9

Beat:

Answer 9

Is when two waves are added together, they alternate between destructive and constructive interferences which form a regular pulsation known as a beat.

• ƒbeat = Iƒ2 - ƒ1I

Question 10

Natural /Resonant Frequency:

Answer 10

Is the natural frequency of an oscillating object.

Question 11

Resonance:

Answer 11

Is when the resonant frequency of an object is met with external frequency (driving frequency) and leads to the increase in amplitude which eventually destructs the object if done long enough.