wave interfere and diffraction

• What are waves defined as?


  Waves are disturbances that transfer energy through a medium without transferring matter.
• What is amplitude in the context of waves?


  Amplitude is the maximum displacement from equilibrium.
• How is wavelength defined?


  Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs.
• What does frequency measure in waves?


  Frequency measures the number of waves passing a fixed point per second.
• What is the period of a wave?


  Period is the time taken for one complete wave cycle.
• How is the speed of a wave defined?


  Speed is the rate at which the wave travels through the medium.
• If a wave has a frequency of 5 Hz and a wavelength of 2 meters, what is its speed?


  The speed is $10 \text{ m/s}$.
• What occurs during wave interference?


  Wave interference occurs when two or more waves meet and combine to form a resultant wave.
• What does the principle of superposition state?


  The principle of superposition states that the displacement of the resultant wave is the sum of the displacements of the individual waves at that point.
• What are the two types of wave interference?


  The two types of wave interference are constructive and destructive interference.
• What happens during constructive interference?


  Constructive interference occurs when waves meet in phase, resulting in a larger amplitude.
• What occurs during destructive interference?

  Destructive interference occurs when waves meet out of phase, which can result in a smaller amplitude or complete cancellation.
• If two sound waves with displacements of +2 and -2 units meet, what is the resultant displacement?


  The resultant displacement is 0 units.
• What is the maximum possible amplitude when two light waves with amplitudes of 3 units and 4 units interfere constructively?


  The maximum possible amplitude is 7 units.
• If two sound waves with amplitudes of 5 decibels and 8 decibels interfere constructively, what is the amplitude of the resultant wave?


  The amplitude of the resultant wave is 13 decibels.
• What is diffraction?


  Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles or spreading of waves through an opening.
• When does diffraction occur?


  Diffraction occurs when waves encounter an obstacle or pass through an opening.
• What factors affect the amount of diffraction?


  The amount of diffraction depends on the wavelength and the size of the obstacle or opening.
• When is diffraction more pronounced?


  Diffraction is more pronounced when the wavelength is comparable to or larger than the size of the obstacle or opening.
• Which scenario would likely result in the most noticeable diffraction?


  Sound waves from a radio passing through a doorway.
• Which type of wave would diffract more when passing through the same small opening?


  Radio waves would diffract more.
• If sound waves and X-rays pass through the same narrow slit, which would show more noticeable diffraction?


  Sound waves would show more noticeable diffraction.
• How does diffraction occur when waves meet an edge?


  When a wave meets an edge, it bends around it, creating secondary waves that spread out in all directions.
• What is the Huygens-Fresnel principle?


  The Huygens-Fresnel principle explains diffraction at a mathematical level.
• What happens to waves when they pass through a narrow harbor entrance?


  They spread out in a semicircular pattern on the other side due to diffraction.
• What determines the spacing between the bright fringes in a single-slit diffraction pattern?


  The spacing between bright fringes depends on the wavelength of the light and the width of the slit.
• What happens when a wave meets an edge?


  It bends around the edge.
• What do secondary waves do when created by diffraction?


  They spread out in all directions.
• What is created when secondary waves interfere with each other?


  A diffraction pattern is created.
• What principle explains diffraction at a mathematical level?


  The Huygens-Fresnel principle.
• What happens to ocean waves when they pass through a narrow harbor entrance?


  They spread out in a semicircular pattern on the other side.
• What determines the spacing between bright fringes in a single-slit diffraction pattern?


  The wavelength of the light and the width of the slit.
• How does changing the color of light from red to blue affect the diffraction pattern?


  The fringes would become closer together.
• What is the relationship between wavelength and angle in the diffraction equation $\sin \theta =$$\frac{\lambda}{a}$?


  A smaller wavelength results in a smaller angle to bright fringes.
• What happens to the diffraction pattern if the slit width is increased while keeping the wavelength constant?


  The fringes would become closer together and the central maximum would become narrower.
• How can you create a diffraction pattern with wider spacing between fringes?


  Make the slit narrower.
• What are some applications of interference and diffraction?


  • Noise-cancelling headphones
  • Interferometers
  • Holograms
  • Antireflective coatings
  • Diffraction gratings
  • X-ray crystallography
  • Fiber optic communications
  • Radio astronomy
• Which technology primarily relies on the principle of destructive interference?


  Noise-cancelling headphones.