Teacher’s Notes:

There are 3 main sequences in this set:

1. Wave-fronts (in a ripple tank), arriving at a barrier and being
diffracted. Part of the wave moves into the ‘shadow’ of the obstacle.
It is shown one step at a time, as you click your mouse.
You can talk it through, moving to the next step when you are ready.
This should help to reduce misconceptions which often arise due to
the difficulty of seeing what is happening in a ripple tank.

2. This is the same sequence, but now automated so that a single click
starts it off, and the motion is now more evident.

3. Finally, the different diffraction of radio waves (longer wavelength)

and TV waves (shorter wavelength) is shown.

Naturally it pays to have a quick practice-run first.

To start the slide-show in Full Screen mode, press Function key <F5>,
or right-click and select Full Screen
(to return to ‘normal view’ press the <Esc> key).
There is a photocopiable sheet of the same diagram in the
Physics for You Teacher Support Pack, page 247.
Diffraction
of waves
2
Learning Objectives
You should learn:

• What happens when a plane wave meets a

barrier that blocks its path
• How this affects radio and TV signals.
Diffraction round an
obstacle
 Diffraction
round an obstacle
water in a ripple tank

barrier

diffracted
wave

incident
wave
 Diffraction
round an obstacle
water in a ripple tank

barrier

diffracted
wave

incident
wave
If the wavelength is longer,

or the object is smaller,

then

the wave moves more into

the ‘shadow’.
Why do the radio waves bend (diffract)
more than the TV waves?
How does this affect the people in the house?

See page 169 in Physics for You

Learning Outcomes
You should now be able to:

• Explain what happens when a plane wave

meets a barrier
• Use the word ‘diffraction’
• Explain how this diffraction affects TV and
radio signals.
See Physics for You, page 169.