5.6 Diffraction Flashcards

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1
Q

Define diffraction

A

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

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2
Q

What makes diffracted waves spread out more?

A
  1. gap is made narrower

2. the wavelength is made larger

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3
Q

Describe the fringe pattern from a single slit

A
  • The central fringe is twice as wide as each of the outer fringes
  • The peak intensity of each fringe decreases with distance from the centre
  • Each of the outer fringes is the same width
  • The outer fringes are much less intense than the central fringe
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4
Q

What equation is used to prove single slit diffraction?

A

w= (wavelength of light/ width of single slit) x 2D

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5
Q

Why can no interference pattern be seen if the slits are too wide?

A

Because interference can only occur if the light from the 2 slits overlap.

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