Diffraction

Question 1

what is Diffraction

Answer 1

is the spreading out of waves when they pass through a gap or round an obstacle

Question 2

The amount of diffraction depends

Answer 2

on the wavelength of the wave compared with size of the gap

Question 3

Diffraction gratings

Answer 3

• A diffraction gratings is a flat plane object with many equally spaced lines or slits
• When light passes through these slits each slit acts as a source of waves that spread out (diffract )and overlaps (superposition)
• This superposition results in the formation of an interference pattern of alternating bright and dark regions
  -Where the waves meet in phase (crest meets crest ) they reinforce each other (constructive interference)⇨ bright regions
  Where the waves meet 180࿁ out of phase (crest meets trough), they cancel out (destructive interference ) ⇨ dark regions
  -The center bright reginis the brightest