Discovering Diffraction

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Questions and Answers

Which scientist coined the term 'diffraction' and made accurate observations of the phenomenon in 1660?

  • Francesco Maria Grimaldi (correct)
  • Albert Einstein
  • Galileo Galilei
  • Isaac Newton

What is diffraction?

  • The bending of waves around the corners of an obstacle or through an aperture (correct)
  • The absorption of waves by a medium
  • The generation of waves by a source
  • The reflection of waves off a surface

Which principle describes the diffraction phenomenon in classical physics?

  • Bohr's Atomic Model
  • Einstein's Theory of Relativity
  • Newton's Law of Motion
  • Huygens–Fresnel principle (correct)

When is the characteristic bending pattern of diffraction most pronounced?

<p>When a wave encounters a small obstacle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when different points on a wavefront interfere in diffraction?

<p>They amplify each other (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Diffraction and Its Origins

  • The term "diffraction" was coined by physicist Christiaan Huygens in 1660 after making accurate observations of the phenomenon.

Definition of Diffraction

  • Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves, particularly light waves, as they encounter obstacles or pass through openings.

Principle of Diffraction

  • Huygens' Principle describes the diffraction phenomenon, stating that every point on a wavefront acts as a source of secondary wavelets, which propagate outward.

Conditions for Pronounced Diffraction

  • The characteristic bending pattern of diffraction is most pronounced when the size of the obstacle or opening is comparable to the wavelength of the wave being diffracted.

Interference in Diffraction

  • When different points on a wavefront interfere in diffraction, they create a pattern of constructive and destructive interference, leading to regions of varying intensity.

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