| Diffraction is the spreading out of waves when they pass through or around a gap. | Diffraction |
| What is diffraction? | The spreading out of waves when they pass through or around a gap. |
| The greatest diffraction occurs when the gap is the same size as the wavelength. | Maximum Diffraction |
| When does maximum diffraction occur? | When the gap is the same size as the wavelength. |
| When the gap is smaller than the wavelength, most waves are reflected. | Small Gap Diffraction |
| What happens when the gap is smaller than the wavelength? | Most waves are reflected. |
| When the gap is larger than the wavelength, there is less noticeable diffraction. | Large Gap Diffraction |
| What happens when the gap is larger than the wavelength? | There is less noticeable diffraction. |
| When a wave meets an obstacle, diffraction occurs around the edges. The wider the obstacle compared to the wavelength, the less diffraction. | Diffraction Around Obstacles |
| What happens when a wave meets an obstacle? | When a wave meets an obstacle, diffraction occurs around the edges. The wider the obstacle compared to the wavelength, the less diffraction. |
| Monochromatic light diffracted through a single slit forms an interference pattern with a bright central fringe and alternating dark and bright fringes. | Monochromatic Light Diffraction |
| What pattern is formed when monochromatic light is diffracted through a single slit? | An interference pattern with a bright central fringe and alternating dark and bright fringes. |
| The central fringe is double the width of all other fringes. | Central Fringe Width |
| How does the width of the central fringe compare to other fringes? | The central fringe is double the width of all other fringes. |
| Bright fringes are caused by constructive interference, where the waves meet in phase. | Bright Fringes |
| What causes bright fringes in a diffraction pattern? | Constructive interference, where waves meet in phase. |
| Dark fringes are caused by destructive interference, where waves meet out of phase. | Dark Fringes |
| What causes dark fringes in a diffraction pattern? | Destructive interference, where waves meet out of phase. |
| The intensity of the fringes decreases from the central fringe outward. | Intensity of Fringes |
| How does the intensity of fringes change from the central fringe? | The intensity decreases from the central fringe outward. |
| White light diffraction creates a pattern where different wavelengths are diffracted by different amounts, resulting in a spectrum of color. | White Light Diffraction |
| What causes a spectrum of color in the diffraction pattern of white light? | The different wavelengths of light are diffracted by different amounts. |
| The diffraction pattern for white light has a central white maximum. | Central Maximum for White Light |
| What is at the center of the diffraction pattern for white light? | A central white maximum. |
| In the white light diffraction pattern, violet is closest to the center, and red is furthest away. | Spectrum in White Light Diffraction |
| In the diffraction pattern of white light, which color is closest to the center? | Violet is closest, and red is furthest. |
| Red light diffraction creates a simpler pattern with bright and dark fringes, with no spectrum of color. | Red Light Diffraction |
| How does the diffraction pattern of red light differ from white light? | Red light produces bright and dark fringes without a spectrum of color. |
| Increasing slit width decreases diffraction, making the central maximum narrower and more intense. | Slit Width and Diffraction |
| What happens to the central maximum when you increase slit width? | It becomes narrower and more intense. |
| Increasing wavelength increases diffraction, making the central maximum wider and less intense. | Wavelength and Diffraction |
| What happens to the central maximum when you increase the wavelength? | It becomes wider and less intense. |
| A diffraction grating is a slide with many equally spaced slits that produce a sharper and brighter interference pattern than a double slit. | Diffraction Grating |
| What does a diffraction grating produce compared to a double slit? | A sharper and brighter interference pattern. |
| The sharper pattern from a diffraction grating makes measurements of slit widths easier and more accurate. | Sharper Interference Pattern |
| Why does a diffraction grating allow for more accurate measurements? | Because the interference pattern is sharper and easier to measure. |
| As the number of slits increases in a diffraction grating, the intensity of the interference pattern increases and becomes more defined. | Number of Slits and Pattern Intensity |
| What happens to the intensity of the interference pattern as the number of slits increases? | The intensity increases and becomes more defined. |
| The ray of light passing through the center of a diffraction grating is called the zero order line. | Zero Order Line |
| What is the ray of light passing through the center of a diffraction grating called? | The zero order line. |
| Lines either side of the zero order are first order lines, followed by second order lines, and so on. | Order Lines |
| What are the lines called that are either side of the zero order line? | First order lines. |
| The formula for diffraction gratings is dsinθ=nλ, where d is the distance between slits, θ is the angle, n is the order, and λ is the wavelength. | Diffraction Grating Formula |
| What is the formula for diffraction gratings? | dsinθ=nλ. |
| Increasing the wavelength (e.g., changing from blue to red light) causes the distance between orders to increase because θ becomes larger. | Effect of Wavelength on Diffraction |
| What happens to the distance between the orders when the wavelength increases? | The distance between the orders increases. |
| The maximum value of sinθ is 1; values of n that make sinθ greater than 1 are impossible. | Maximum Value of sin θ |
| What is the maximum value of sinθ and what does it imply for the values of n? | The maximum value is 1; values of n that makes sinθ greater than 1 are impossible. |
| The path difference between two adjacent rays for the first order maximum is one wavelength. | First Order Maximum Path Difference |
| What is the path difference between two rays for the first order maximum? | One wavelength. |
| In the diffraction grating setup, a right-angle triangle is formed with sides d (distance between slits) and λ (wavelength). | Right Angle Triangle Formation |
| What forms a right-angle triangle in the diffraction grating setup? | The sides d and λ. |
| The angle between the normal to the grating and the ray of light is θ. | Angle θ in Triangle |
| What is the angle between the normal to the grating and the ray of light? | θ. |
| For the first maximum, rearranged to dsinθ=λ. | Trigonometric Relation for First Maximum |
| What is the trigonometric relation for the first maximum? | sinθ=λ/d, rearranged to dsinθ=λ. |
| For other maxima, the path difference is nλ, where n is an integer, generalizing to dsinθ=nλ. | Generalization for Other Maxima |
| How is the formula generalized for other maxima? | By using nλ for the path difference, leading to dsinθ=nλ. |
| Diffraction gratings are used to split light from stars to obtain line absorption spectra, which reveal the elements present in the star. | Line Absorption Spectra |
| How are diffraction gratings used in astronomy? | They split light from stars to obtain line absorption spectra which show the elements present in the star. |
| In x-ray crystallography, x-rays are directed at a thin crystal, acting as a diffraction grating to form a diffraction pattern that measures atomic spacing. | X-ray Crystallography |
| What is x-ray crystallography used for? | It measures atomic spacing by using a diffraction pattern formed when x-rays are directed at a crystal. |
| The wavelength of x-rays is similar in size to the gaps between atoms, allowing them to form a diffraction pattern. | Wavelength and Atomic Spacing |
| Why are x-rays suitable for measuring atomic spacing? | Their wavelength is similar in size to the gaps between atoms. |
