13.7: Diffraction

13.7.A.1 Diffraction is the spreading of a wave around the edges of an obstacle or through an opening.

13.7.A.2 Diffraction is most pronounced when the size of the opening is comparable to the wavelength of the wave.

13.7.A.3 Diffraction of multiple wave fronts through a single opening leads to observable interference patterns.

13.7.A.4 For small angles, the distance y from the middle of the central bright fringe of a diffraction pattern to the mth point of minimum brightness (m=1) produced at a distance D from single opening with aperture size a by a wave of wavelength  passing through the opening can be approximated by

13.7.A.5 The diffraction pattern produced by a wave passing through an opening depends on the shape of the opening.

13.7.A.6 Visual representations of single-slit diffraction patterns are useful in determining the physical properties of the slit and the interacting waves.