Question

Explain how light bends during diffraction.

Diffraction is the bending and spreading of light that happens because light is a wave. When a wavefront meets an obstacle or aperture whose size is comparable to its wavelength, every point on the wavefront acts like a little secondary source. The secondary wavelets interfere with each other and produce a redistributed pattern of intensity — light appears to “bend” into regions that geometric rays would leave dark. The characteristic diffraction angle is about θ ≈ λ/d (wavelength divided by aperture or obstacle size).
Sample Response: When light encounters a barrier or an opening, wavelets traveling perpendicular to the wave front move into the shadow regions of the barrier or opening.

What did you include in your response? Check all that apply.

Wave fronts are made of wavelets.
Wavelets travel perpendicular to wave fronts.
Wave fronts move into the shadow region of barriers and openings.

Answer 1

Included:
- Wave fronts are made of wavelets.
- Wave fronts (light) move into the shadow region of barriers and openings.

Not included:
- Wavelets travel perpendicular to wave fronts.