Wave Optics
The bending of light near the edges of an obstacle and spreading into the region of geometrical shadow is called ___________.
To observe diffraction, the size of an obstacle:
Diffraction is basically the bending of waves. The bending occurs due to obstacles. It occurs only when the wavelength is comparable to the size of aperture. As the wavelength increases, the diffraction effect will also increase.
Thus for greater diffraction, it is important that the size of the obstacle is directly proportional to the wavelength of the source. Suppose a is diffraction and $$\lambda$$ is the wavelength $$a \propto \lambda $$ Hence for diffraction, size of obstacle should be in the order of a wavelength
The bending of light near the edges of an obstacle and spreading into the region of geometrical shadow is called ___________.
In producing a pure spectrum, the incident light is passed through a narrow slit placed in the focal plane of an achromatic lens because a narrow slit
Answer the following questions: (a) In a single slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit is made double the original width. How does this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band? (b) In what way is diffraction from each slit related to the interference pattern in a double-slit experiment? (c) When a tiny circular obstacle is placed in the path of light from a distant source, a bright spot is seen at the centre of the shadow of the obstacle. Explain why? (d) Two students are separated by a 7 m partition wall in a room 10 m high. If both light and sound waves can bend around obstacles, how is it that the students are unable to see each other even though they can converse easily. (e) Ray optics is based on the assumption that light travels in a straight line. Diffraction effects (observed when light propagates through small apertures/slits or around small obstacles) disprove this assumption. Yet the ray optics assumption is so commonly used in understanding location and several other properties of images in optical instruments. What is the justification?
To observe diffraction, the size of the obstacle
When a compact disc is illuminated by small source of white light, coloured bands are observed. This is due to
Diffraction effects are more easily detected in the case of sound waves than light waves because:
The diffraction effect can be observed in
The bending of beam of light around corners of obstacles is called
The penetration of light into the region of geometrical shadow is called
Condition of diffraction is