7.

Diffraction of Waves
 DIFFRACTION OF WAVES
• Definition: Diffraction is the ability of waves to bend around
obstacles placed in their path.

• As per definition, the size (of the gap, aperture or obstacle)

relative to the wavelength determines the degree of diffraction.
See Figures (a), (b) and (c).
 EFFECTS OF DIFFRACTION

1. No change in: frequency (f), wavelength (λ) and speed (v) of the
waves; and

2. Change in: direction and amplitude of the waves upon diffraction.

(Amplitude of diffracted waves < amplitude of incident waves; and
direction of propagation changes and the waves spread out)
 DIFFRACTION OF WATER WAVES

• When plane waves in the ripple tank are incident on a slit formed by
placing two separate barriers in the tank, the waves emerging from
the slit are not straight (they are curved).

• When the slit width is altered in relation to the wavelength of the

incident wave motion, then the shape of diffracted waves will be
altered.
• When the width of the slit is of the same order of size as the
wavelength of the incident waves, then the emerging waves are
observed to be of circular in nature as shown in (c). Thus, 𝜆 ≅ 𝑑.

• If slit width is increased relative to the wavelength of the wave

motion, the circular parts of the emerging waves are restricted to
the edge regions and which is most negligible if the slit width is very
much greater than the wavelength of incident waves. Thus, d > 𝜆
(refer to part b.) 𝑜𝑟 𝑑 ≫ 𝜆(refer to part a.)
 DIFFRACTION AROUND OBJECTS
• When a wave is moving around an obstacle, the wave appears to
fill the shadow behind the obstacle.

a) If 𝑑 ≪ 𝜆 then waves pass object without shadow. However, circular

waves are observed to come from position of object –scattering.
b) If 𝑑 ≅ 𝜆 maximum bending is observed
c) If 𝑑 ≫ 𝜆 then a large shadow appears. In the shadow no waves
propagate.
• In general, the amount of diffraction depends on the size of the
gap relative to the wavelength and the wavelength of the wave:

1. The effect of diffraction increases when the width of the gap is

decreased
2. The effect of diffraction increases when the wavelength is
increased
 DIFFRACTION OF SOUND WAVES

How can the teacher in the corridor hear the school band even though
he isn’t in the hall?
• Sound waves have wavelengths from about 15 m down to 2 cm.
Many everyday objects are the same size as sound waves – this
causes a lot of diffraction.
• This is why we can hear someone talking to us who is not directly in
our line of sight. Sound waves diffract when they pass through
doors or move past the edges of walls.

• Note: Diffraction of sound should not be confused with

reflection of sound (echos).
 DIFFRACTION OF LIGHT WAVES
• Diffraction also occurs in light, but since light's wavelengths are
much smaller, diffraction is less obvious.

• Diffraction patterns are classified into two categories depending on

distance which source and screen are placed:
a) Fresnel Diffraction: When either the source or the screen is near
the aperture or obstacle, the wavefronts are spherical and the
pattern is quite complex.
b) Fraunhofer Diffraction: When both source and screen are placed
at a greater distance from the aperture, the incident light plane
waves and the rays leaving the opening are parallel.

However, much of these will be fully discussed later.