Wave Diffraction

Mr. Anderson explains wave diffraction, the bending of waves around obstacles or through openings. He illustrates this with water waves, sound, and light, emphasizing the importance of the obstacle or opening size relative to the wavelength. Real-world examples and demonstrations using a ripple tank and PhET simulation are provided to show how diffraction occurs in different scenarios.

What is wave diffraction and how does it occur?

Explain the relationship between the size of an obstacle and the wavelength in the context of diffraction.

How does diffraction differ for sound waves compared to light waves?

Describe an experiment that can demonstrate wave diffraction.

What factors influence the amount of diffraction observed when waves pass through an opening?