Diffraction

[705340227]

Does diffraction result from a wave trying to go past a barrier with holes or does it result from waves interacting with each other, or both?

[Chanel Mao 3D]

Hi!
I'm pretty sure diffraction refers to both, since it is essentially what happens when waves interact with other obstacles, including other waves. Hope this helps!

[Katie Nye 2F]

I think both because diffraction talks about how the waves interact with each other once they've gone through a barrier with holes :)

[Izamary Marquez 2H]

With regards to diffraction, how can we tell when a system is constructive vs destructive? Do these properties mean something in particular? Is there certain characteristics of atoms that make the waves have one pattern over the other?

[Hailey Qasawadish 2J]

With regards to diffraction, how can we tell when a system is constructive vs destructive? Do these properties mean something in particular? Is there certain characteristics of atoms that make the waves have one pattern over the other?

Hi! The terms constructive and destructive refer to how the waves are interacting with each other. For example, if something has constructive properties, the waves are acting in phase. This means that the peak of one wave interacts with the peak of another. This would ultimately result in higher amplitudes. If something were to have destructive properties, this would mean that waves were acting out of phase. This refers to when the peak of a wave interacts with the trough of another wave, leading to a diminished overall amplitude. Hope this makes sense.