What is Diffraction?

Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles and the spreading of waves as they pass through an opening. It occurs with all types of waves, including sound waves, water waves, and light waves. When waves encounter an obstacle or a slit, they bend and spread out, creating a pattern of interference and diffraction.

How does Diffraction occur?

When a wave encounters an obstacle, such as a barrier or a slit, the wavefronts bend around the edges of the obstacle. This bending of the wavefronts causes the wave to spread out, creating a pattern of diffraction. The amount of diffraction that occurs depends on the wavelength of the wave and the size of the obstacle or opening.

Examples of Diffraction

• Sound waves diffracting around the corner of a building, allowing us to hear sound from around the corner.
• Water waves diffracting around a rock in a pond, creating a pattern of ripples.
• Light waves diffracting through a narrow slit, creating a pattern of bright and dark fringes.

Applications of Diffraction

Diffraction has many practical applications, including:

• Using diffraction gratings in spectrometers to separate and analyze different wavelengths of light.
• Designing sound barriers to reduce noise pollution by diffracting sound waves.
• Creating patterns on CDs and DVDs using the diffraction of light.

Study Guide for Diffraction

When studying diffraction, it's important to understand the following key points:

1. The definition of diffraction and how it occurs with different types of waves.
2. The factors that affect the amount of diffraction, such as wavelength and the size of the obstacle or opening.
3. Real-life examples of diffraction and its applications in various fields.
4. How diffraction is used in everyday technology, such as in spectrometers and optical devices.

[Diffraction] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• SoundScience • Eighth Grade
• LightScience • Eighth Grade
• LightPhysics • High School