7.8 Diffraction of Waves
Diffraction of waves is the bending of waves around the sharp edges or corners of obstacles or the spreading of waves beyond a barrier. It occurs when a wave encounters a physical barrier or an opening (a slit) that is comparable in size to the wavelength of the wave. The longer the wavelength, the greater the spreading and vice versa.
Diffraction can be observed in various types of waves, including water waves, sound waves, light waves and electromagnetic waves.
Some examples of the phenomenon of diffraction include:
- Hearing of sound waves around corners or through door way from where they were generated as sound waves bend around the corners.
- Diffraction of X-rays by crystals as the spacing between the regular arrays of atoms is of the order of X-rays wavelength.
Diffraction is a fundamental aspect of wave behaviour and has many practical applications in various fields.