Diffraction
Physics: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 3.1.11
Diffraction
The diffraction of a wave is only significant when the gap size is roughly equal to the size of the wavelength.
In large gaps
- If the gap size is very large relative to the size of the wavelength, the wave passes through with little diffraction.
In small gaps
- If the gap size is very small relative to the size of the wavelength, the amount of diffraction increases but not much of the wave will pass through the gap.
Test yourself on Diffraction
What diffraction will occur on a wave if the gap size is much smaller than the wavelength?
What causes a wave to diffract?