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Diffraction

slaw

During diffraction, what happens to the wave length, wave speed and frequency?

Thanks

Reply 1

elpaw

they all remain the same.

Reply 2

slaw

Hm...thats interesting, what exactly causes diffraction? Is it because of the gap narrowing so it forces the wave to bend? So what properties of the wave actually change during diffraction? Or does nothing change?

Reply 3

slaw

What about refraction? would the wavelength or the frequency change? I guess the frequency would change because it slows down thus meaning that less waves are being produced per second but it this right?

Reply 4

elpaw

in refraction frequency remains constant. the wavelength and speed decrease.

as for diffraction... this is due to the wavefronts changing shape. that itself is due to interference (or rather, lack of it, from the waves at the sides which are no longer there)