How does wavelength affect light diffraction?

How does wavelength affect light diffraction?

• A. Shorter wavelengths diffract more than longer wavelengths
• B. Longer wavelengths always create sharper images
• C. Shorter wavelengths diffract less than longer wavelengths
• D. Wavelength does not affect diffraction at all

Answer: (C)

Wavelength plays a significant role in the diffraction of light, which is the bending and spreading of waves when they encounter an obstacle or pass through an aperture. The fundamental principle is that the amount of diffraction is inversely related to the wavelength of the light: as the wavelength increases, the degree of diffraction also increases. This means that longer wavelengths, such as those of red light, will diffract more than shorter wavelengths, such as those of blue light. Therefore, when light encounters an obstacle or a slit, the shorter wavelengths will experience less bending and spreading compared to the longer wavelengths, resulting in less pronounced diffraction patterns. This relationship is crucial in optics and helps in understanding how light behaves in various situations, such as in diffraction gratings and when passing through narrow openings. It also impacts various applications, including imaging systems and optical instruments, by affecting the resolution and details captured in images.

Wavelength plays a significant role in the diffraction of light, which is the bending and spreading of waves when they encounter an obstacle or pass through an aperture. The fundamental principle is that the amount of diffraction is inversely related to the wavelength of the light: as the wavelength increases, the degree of diffraction also increases.

This means that longer wavelengths, such as those of red light, will diffract more than shorter wavelengths, such as those of blue light. Therefore, when light encounters an obstacle or a slit, the shorter wavelengths will experience less bending and spreading compared to the longer wavelengths, resulting in less pronounced diffraction patterns.

This relationship is crucial in optics and helps in understanding how light behaves in various situations, such as in diffraction gratings and when passing through narrow openings. It also impacts various applications, including imaging systems and optical instruments, by affecting the resolution and details captured in images.