C1 Flashcards
Is diffraction the greatest when the size of the aperture is smaller, larger or similar in size to the wave length of light?
similar
The meeting of two waves is called superposition. What happens to the two waves?
Their amplitudes add together to produce a single wave with a larger amplitude
What is the path difference of diffracted waves which causes constructive interference?
one wavelength
What is the path difference of diffracted waves which causes destructive interference?
half wavelength
Describe coherent waves
Same frequency, wavelength and phase difference
What is diffraction?
Spreading out of waves as they pass through an aperture or around objects
What property of light produces a pattern of light bands on a screen from an emission spectrum?
interference
When sunlight is passed through a diffraction grating, the angle of diffraction is affected by what?
wavelength of light
What is a photon?
A particle of light energy
What is excitation in an atom?
An electron absorbs energy and moves up to a higher energy level
What is de-excitation in an atom?
An electron moves to a lower energy level by emitting a photon
What is the phase difference in degrees, which leads to destructive interference?
180
What is the phase difference in degrees, which leads to constructive interference?
360 or 0
What happens to light when it passes through a diffraction grating?
It diffracts - the angle of diffraction is affected by wavelength
Why does sunlight produce patterns of brightly coloured lines in different positions?
Colours have different wavelengths, and the angle of diffraction depends on the wavelength
