Physics Diffraction Interference, Study notes of Physics

Download Physics Diffraction Interference and more Study notes Physics in PDF only on Docsity! DIFFRACTION & INTERFERENCE DIFFRACTION Diffraction is the bending of light as it passes around the edge of an object (not to be confused with refraction in which light bends upon entering and exiting a different medium). The amount of diffraction depends on the relative size of the wavelength to the size of the opening. If the wavelength is significantly smaller than the gap the bending will be almost unnoticeable, with only its edges bending. If the wavelength is significantly larger than the gap the diffraction will be much greater, causing the wave to bend out in circular or cylindrical waves Light is often diffracted around atmospheric particles, like water droplets. When a beam of particles encounters a barrier, it is either stopped by the barrier or passes through it without any change in direction. Diffraction can cause light and dark bands Diffraction occurs with every type of wave. All physical objects have wave-like properties at the atomic level. The diffraction of waves through a single slit observed on a screen would result in a pattern of bright and dark bands. The Central Diffraction Maximum is where most of the light is concentrated (brightest band) The first Diffraction Minimum: Angle between wave ray to a point = Wavelength/width of slit. The second Diffraction Minimum occurs at 2wavelegth/width of slit The intensity of the light = the square of its amplitude Central diffraction maximum is inversely proportional to the width of the slit. As the slit decreases, the angle of the wave A slit which is wider than a wavelength produces interference effects in the space downstream of the slit. INTERFERENCE Interference occurs when two waves superimpose from a resultant wave of greater or lower amplitude. It usually refers to the interaction of waves that come from the same source (coherent) or that have nearly the same frequency. This can be observed from all types of waves.