Essential Knowledge

Topic

Explain and discuss qualitatively the diffraction of waves by apertures and obstacles.
Describe examples of diffraction.
The effect of wavelength compared to obstacle size or aperture size should be discussed.
Diffraction is the spreading of waves as they pass through an aperture
(hole) or around an obstacle
Examples: sound waves will travel through a doorway and be audible to
everyone in the room, not just those near the door. For certain waves a
sandbar will cast no shadow but the waves will fill in the space behind
the sandbar.
The size of the aperture/obstacle in comparison with the wavelength of the
wave is the critical factor in determining the degree of diffraction that takes
place
If the wavelength of a plane wavefront is small compared to the size of the
aperture or obstacle then no diffraction takes place - visible light waves will
not diffract when passing through a doorway
If the wavelength of a plane wavefront is comparable to the size of the
aperture or obstacle then diffraction will take place FM radio waves will
diffract through a doorway or around buildings (this is why FM radio has a
better range than AM radio --- AM waves are too long and dont bend
around buildings nearly as well as FM).
14. State the principle of superposition and explain what is meant by constructive and destructive
interference.
The principle of superposition allows you to determine the resulting displacement of interfering
waves. To find the displacement of the medium at a single point, simply add the vector
displacements from each of the interfering waves.
Constructive interference occurs when the resulting displacement is larger than the displacement
of the interfering waves.
Destructive interference occurs when the resulting displacement is smaller than the displacement
of the interfering waves.
a
a
15. Apply the principle of superposition to
find the resultant of two waves.
b
b
16. State and apply the conditions for
constructive and destructive interference
a+b
in terms of path difference and phase
a-b
difference.
Consider two identical waves that are in phase with each other (both emit the same peak at the
same time) but are arriving at some location from two different sources (like sound from two
different speakers). Suppose that waves from one source travel a distance of 3 wavelengths to
reach the location and waves from the other source travel 2 wavelengths. Since the two waves
were identical when they left and they both traveled a whole number of wavelengths, they will
arrive in phase and interfere constructively.
However, suppose that at another location waves from one source travel 3 wavelengths to reach
the location but waves from the other source only travel 2.5 wavelengths to reach the same
location. They left the two sources in phase (say peak and peak). The first wave will arrive as a peak
but the second wave will arrive as a valley. This will produce destructive interference.
So, in general, if the path difference = N(an integer multiple of wavelength) then constructive
interference occurs.
If the path difference is an odd multiple of /2 then destructive interference will occur.
12.
13.

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Study and
Practice
Read pp.
139, 151152