Question

For diffraction to be significant, how must the size of the obstacle or aperture compare with the wavelength of the wave?

Options

• It must be comparable to the resolving power of the eye

• It must be unrelated to the wavelength of the wave

• It must be far larger than the wavelength of the wave

• It must be comparable to the wavelength of the wave

Answer 1

Significant diffraction occurs when the size of the obstacle or aperture is comparable to the wavelength of the wave. When the sizes differ greatly, the diffraction effect is less noticeable.