Diffraction

Diffraction

1. Is a property of all kinds of waves, in which the waves bend around the edge of a barrier or though an opening in a barrier.

   • Smaller openings produce greater diffraction

2. Is not confined to narrow slits or to an opening in general but can be seen around th edges of all shadows

3. If the size of an object is about the same as the the wavelenght of light, diffraction blurs the image

4. If the object is smaller than the wavelenght of light, no structure can be seen

   • The entire image is lost due to diffraction

5. Examples

   • - When you hit a piece of wood inside a container with water, the water would ripple and make waves around the piece of wood
     • - If a wave meets a hole un a wall that is of comparable size to its wavelenght, the wave wull be bent
       • - When you touch your finger to the surface of still water, circular ripples are produced