what is diffraction?

When does it occur?
Which waves will defract more when passing through an opening?

5 answers

Oh my, where to start. Any time a wave encounters something of size the same order as the wavelength, diffraction happens. It does not matter if it is an ocean wave at the tip of a breakwater or a light wave hitting a diffraction grating.

Maybe google single slit diffraction
ive tried google its all confusing
Here is a diffraction grating
Note that the angle of the first maximum depends on the wavelength of the light, which allows you to separate wavelengths by their angle.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/grating.html

Probably the easiest one to understand though is the DOUBLE slit so I will look for that
ah, here is a U tube for double slit. I bet that helps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZdWQKaykvs
Yeah, cool, that is a pretty good U tube