Physzcs Fac Diffraction Effects Ditfraction seems-an unusual effect to most of us. We tend to think of waves orrays uavelling in straight lines, They may reflect off a surface or change direction when entering a different medium, bur we expect them to ‘aval in a straight line otherwise “The curving of waves within a medium caused by dittraction goes against ‘our usual assuinptions, and can be quite a problem at times. However we ean also nuke use of this wave property ili) ") i | Diffraction causes waves to bend around edges, or spress) out through zaps. We often say that diffraction isa maximum when the wavelength is, Similar to the width ofthe aperuie. Ifthe aperture becomes smaller than the wavelength, diffraction wil, in Fact, increase. However the total wave energy passing through the gap decreases, making the diffraction effect less noticeable, So perhaps it is reasonable to think in terms of wavelength matching epertre size. It certainly makes calculations easier BPO Sirong diffraction occurs when the wavelengths equa tthe wideh ofthe aperture: ‘What we are going to look atin this Factsheet is diffraction, and its effects ina variety of wave motions (noting similarities and differences, uses and difficulties). We wil also consider some basic mathematieal relationships involving diffiaction, Answers to lhe questions posed will be given atthe end ofthe Factsheet, Ie will prove useful to attempt each question as it occurs, rather than all together at the end, A mote in-depth look at diffraction with light, including more complex mats, will feature in 2 Follow-up Factsheet Water waves ‘We build harbour walls with narrow entrances to shelter boats from large waves. Butdiffrction causes the waves to spread out within the harbour, limiting the value ofthe harbour walls: isheet Problem? (a) A wider opening would reduce diffraction within the harbour, bu ‘what are the problems with this? (b) A narower opening would increase diffrsetion. Is this nevessarity counter-prodctive? Another interesting diffraction effect can be seen with boats. A small boat ftenias astrong wave disturbance directly behind it bout does not where larger, wider Problem? Using ideas of diffeetion and ierference, can you explain this effect? Sound waves Sound travels at about 330 ms" through air (depending on temperature), ‘This means that the wavelengths of audible sound tend to match aperture or obstacle size around usin nature (and in buildings). So difraction effects are very large with sound waves. BP Nose thar aipraction ocows bor for ransverse and longitudinal oscillations, and also for both mechanical and electromagnetic waves Problem 3 If we can hear sounds between SO Hz and 20 000 Hz. find the range of wavelengths (in ai) 10 which these frequencies correspond. (Notice how this range spans the size of many things around us, leading to diffraction.) ‘Owl hoots areata relatively low frequency compared to songbirds. This Tonger wavelength leads to greater diffraction effects, bending the sound ‘around trees and hillsides. The owl can communicate its presence over considerable distances. However the diffraction makes i very difficult for any prey to successfully loca! the exact postion ofthe owl Foghors operate at low frequencies (long wavelengts). Diffraction means ships can hear the sound around (or over islands and headlands that may be between the ships and the foghorn However, again, locating te direction tw the sound source is difficult. Problem 4 Suppose a sound system is playing inthe house. You are in the back ‘garden with the door open, When you ae inline of sigh toe speakers, {you hear more teble; when you are of" tothe side youhear more bass. Explain tis In-aconcert hall, it is important thai the sound from the speakers fans out across the hall. But tis also imporiant to limit the sound inteasity reaching the ceiling, asthe reflections will increase echoing (reverkeration) the ball Wud singe would poe chose F the conceit hall? Should they78, DiffkactionEffects R cowaves Diffraction sus sto transmission, especially for long and medium wave signals, These sagts will diffrac over hills and around buildings, making the signal accessible in ‘awkward’ areas However FM radio ary F wavelengths for heir caver frequencis, extending iniv the mierowave recion. Shorter waveteng:hs mean less diffraction, Relay’ stations sze needed to maincln ‘tine of sight transmission, Ratio > Teusiaiter Radio teles:opes are used to study rao te ie erm resstution © describe the a images of two son missions from space. We wse ity of a device to separate the -238 which have only’ smell angular separation. ‘The resolution ofa telescopes (optical or radio) depends on the aslo of the wavelzagth io the aperure, To minimise dffaction (xd im solution} the aperture should be as large as possible, compared io the wavelength being observed Limit of resolution = 2a where ais she diamster of te aperte Problem 6 Suppose an optical lenge 5 107m. What disnteier rust the reiiector 7a w be in order to produce the same resolution when -scope of lens diameter Im is to absene: observing rad's waves of wavelength 10cm? Radioimage Ie might then seein pintless studying radio emissions, From epic ebsoevations are $0 much shaper However the radio dota provides difieent information, which might be useful in its own righ Sometimes optics? observ ely identify the source of the radio wav One way in whic: rose Linking tue ta radio elesco,es is by lsh Physies B “Theeffec the resolution, However the iota! 2 signal received) depands 0 resolution sgn . received, nergy cotlecied (be "bight the araa eft Problem 7 Aline of 9 dishes sajoining dishes, is used t0 space. Compare the energy collected by these dishes with that whch ‘would be collected by a dish with areal diamnotsreqeal 9 diamter ofthis system, (One place you way have seen ni model X-ray or eect dit spas ‘X-rays and Electrons Tr imay seem strange to a6 ‘ue used t9 study atom structre ‘The X-ays produced have wavetengths spanning thse requved to undergo dliffeaiion by exystal planes, ‘We uaaliy think of theory tells us that they clectrons of he righ energy wil disp 9 erysials. ‘The diftection ra when the exiradistance lengths “The receiver will measure an interference maxis tcovalled by the socond ray is « whole number of a ference besween wo sure tke ang! se Spacing for the erystal. This is usually ofthe order of 10° Ie select one sp ic huowa X-ray wavelength (uring filters), then the angleio give acithaction powder (oran equivtent. hate the crystal g tall possible ori aye geva diffraction78. DiflractionEffects Problems Uf wbeam of X-rays of wavelength 2.1 > 10" m is directed at a thin ‘metal sheet (Composed ofa lage number of randomly oriented metal _rains) a diffraction pater is produced. ltis found thatrays deflected {hrough ¥6 degrees produce the firs inieeference ma spacing between the omic planes in the metal ‘An alternative to these transmission patterns, where the X-ray ben penetrates the sample, isthe back reflection method, Diffraction patterns are obained from X-rays reflected back from the surface of a sample. With ctectrons, we select the wavelength by choosing the voltage through whieh we accelerate them [Gon eV (usually quoredin electron-volts) p=mv=Wh (de Broglie's equetion) his Plonck's constant mand e are the rest mass and charge of an electron. De Broglie’s equation inks wave and pasticle properties of matter. By combining these equations (and remembering that E = Yon"), we reach ‘our final relationship Aehs met) Problem (a) we accelerate an electron through 200, what energy do we give it (stated in joules)? (b) What wavelength would this energy translate to for an electron? (6) Would this be suitable for studying crystal structure using electron} ditfracton? Problem 10 What voltage would produce electrons with a wavelength of exactly] 3.0% 10% m? Electron diffraction can also be used to study the nucleus, Here we need ‘wavelengths of about 10'*m for diffraction patterns. If you use the above equations, you wil find thatthe speeds requited of the electrons are greater ‘San the speed of light, However itis possible to produce these wavelengths, As the electrons approach the speed of light, relativistic calculations replace the above ‘equations with the siruple expression: = eV hel A quick calculation wil show you that if you can accelerate the electrons through several million volts, you can achieve very short wavelengths, ‘Visible Light A separate Factsheet will deal with diffraction effects with visible light, Factsheet 81 will include (a) Single stit diffraction (through gaps and holes) () Molipe slits (©) Transmission and reflection gratings £2) Crossed gratings 9) thes of diffraction RESETS SEITE TRIES Physies Factsheet SRSA Answers Problem 1 Solution ‘ xy would eater the harbour, Reflections from inner il spread the wave energy throughout the harbour, Sp increasing the harbour opening is nota sensthle option, (®) Although diffraction would increase, te total wiave energy entering the harbour would decrease, redveing the danger othe boats sheloring in the harbour. However @ nanawer hsrbour entrance would make navigation into the harbour more difficult in poor weather conditions, Problem 2 Solution With a narrower boat, waves diffracting around the back corners con meet behind the boat, leading to strong interference effect LET) oc] TTT) — (Oy apologies to eaders i dhere is nautieal term for “back comers.) pattern occurs Problem 3 Solution: ‘This range of wavelengths for audible sound makes diffraction very noticeable, Problem 4 Solution: ‘Through the same aperture, longer wavelengths (bass notes) experience greater diffraction 2 Title = | |p A goter proportion of the energy from the buss notes» rough greater augles, The ine of sight” sound will have lest muze energy from the bass, sounding more treble. Off to the side. the ruse will sound mote bass (deeper). Problem 5 Solution: ‘The speakers should be tall and tha, nr EY Hon Lm Diffraction from the narrows horizontal aperture fans the welt snipSo the radio dish required 19 produce the 3 dianeier of 200k se resolution would have Problem 7 solutios Diameter of bis dish Areas nx = (9% 10) + (8 x50.0) = 409 m 205 x 205 = 130 000 sq, Forsmial dishes: Area= 9 XR xOS ¥O5= 7.1 8. aii of encegic. collected will be the same as the ratio of ares 000: 7.1 = 18.600: 1 Problein 8 Solutio phe 2d sine Gsingy= FAN ION Probleus 9 Solutio (a) E=200eV= ~ LG x10 F232 x10"F 6.810" OV LET IE Pesto 500) 8.6 > 10" (c) This szenis reasonable, Tue spacing ofp 3x 10" ms, 3 i crystals is eypically Problem 19 Solution: RRearranging the given equation: ses Factsheet ‘Typlealexain ques! ‘We will conclude with a (fairly simple) typical exon question for you to attem| (2) Define diffraction (in words) {b) What relationship betwreen wa to miasiamum diffreetion’ (©) Wave motioa of wavelength, 4 gives a diffraction pattern witen ‘goes through an apertire of width, a, Whaé happens to ths pattern if we: (8) Double the wayetesgth (only) ) Double the aperture wideh (ely) GiiyDouble both wavelength and apeciuce wid (d) For moltipte sit diffrwe the equation: svi given by na, tae Esinge apse D is the distanet from its to serous, and (@ Microwaves of wavelongth 3.0 em travel through ¢ double slit ofspacing 6.5 em, snd the detector is placed 0.8 m beyond the sls, Find the distance between adjacent masima in the interference patters. ‘The microwave source and detector are replaced by an Infrared source and detector. What would you notice about the diffraction pattern? Answers (a) Diffraction is the bending of wavefront when it ravels through ar eperture or past an edge (b) Wselengeh and aperture size should be approxinnately equa in oe 37m