7. Diffraction Flashcards
What is Diffraction?
Diffraction is the way that waves spread out as they come through a gap or go around obstacles
WHat affects the amount of diffraction?
The ratio between the size of the wavelength and the size of the gap affects how much diffraction is present. With the greatest diffraction being present when the size of the gap is equal to the size of the wavelength.
What is the Diffraction pattern from monochromatic light through a single slit?
A single light beam passes through a slit and lands on a screen, with one band of a much stronger intensity than all the others in the middle, and then small bands of smaller intensity going outwards. The central fringe is known as the central maximum, and all the other fringes are known as the nth order
What causes the diffraction pattern from monochromatic light through a single slit?
As the light beam diffracts through the slit there are sections where the beam will go through constructive and destructive interference with itself, with the dark fringes between the light fringes being a result of destructive interference, while the light fringes being a result of constructive interference.
How does the diffraction of white light differ to that of monochromatic light?
The light fringes are a spectra of colours, this is due to the fact that white light is a mixture of different colours, and due to the different wavelengths of light, the light would be in different places in the spectra.
