Activity objectives
A. To understand diffraction as the bending of a wave due to an obstacle.
Observe simulation: https://www.falstad.com/ripple/
to understand wavefront and wavelength
demo single source, half plane, obstacle
B. To understand the interference pattern due to diffraction by a double-slit.
Observe simulation: https://www.falstad.com/ripple/ to demo double-slit
experiment, setting L = 1 m, lamda = ____ :
Find the relation between the distance between the center and the first bright fringe, y1, and slits separation, d at fixed L=1 m.
Find the relation between the distance between the center and the first bright fringe, y1, and L at a fixed slits separation, d.
C. To understand the interference pattern due to diffraction by a single slit.
experiment, setting L = 1 m, using slits, square, hexagon.
D. To compare the interference pattern due to diffraction by a double-slit, single slit and multiple slit.
Investigate difference by the size of the central bright compares to the the first bright fringe.
What other difference?
E. To understand that diffraction depends on the wavelengths.
Use a diffraction grating and look at white light through it.
Which color diffracts more?