Refraction and Diffraction

Question 1

Reflected.

Answer 1

Go through new material but change direction.

Question 2

Diffracted.

Answer 2

Waves ‘bend round’ obstacles causing the waves to spread out.

Question 3

Describe what happens during diffraction.

Answer 3

All waves spread out at the edges when they pass through a gap or pass an obstacle.
The amount of diffraction depends on the size of the gap relative to the wavelength of the wave.
Narrow gap or longer wavelength = more waves spread out.
Narrow gap is one that is the same order og magnitude as the wavelength of the wave

Question 4

Light wavelength.

Answer 4

Very small wavelength so it can be diffracted but it needs a really small gap.

Question 5

Describe what happens during refraction.

Answer 5

When a wave crosses a boundary between 2 substances it changes direction.
When light singes on a glas window some of the light is reflected but a lot of it passes through the glass and gets refracted as it does so.
Waves are refracted if they meet a new medium at an angle.
If they are travelling along the normal lime they will change speed but are not refracted - dont change direction.