Question

Identify two everyday phenomena that exhibit diffraction of sound and explain how diffraction of sound applies. Identify two everyday phenomena that exhibit diffraction of light and explain how diffraction of light applies. Comparing your examples, what are some significant differences between diffraction of light and diffraction of sound, if any?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Diffraction is the term used to describe the bending of a wave around an obstacle. It is one of the general properties of waves.

1. Diffraction of sound is the bending of sound waves around an obstacle which propagates from source to a listener. Two of the daily phenomena that exhibit diffraction of sound are:

i. The voices of people talking outside a building can be heard by those inside.

ii. The sound from the horn of a car can be heard by people at certain distances away.

When sound waves are produced, the surrounding air molecules are required for its transmission. This is because sound wave is a mechanical wave which requires material medium for its propagation. When a source produces a sound, the sound waves bend around obstacles on its path to reach listeners.

2. Light waves are electromagnetic waves which can undergo diffraction. Diffraction of light is the bending of the rays of light around an obstacle. Two of the daily phenomena that exhibit diffraction of light are:

i. The shadow of objects which has the umbra and penumbra regions.

ii. The apparent color of the sky.

A ray of light is the path taken by light, and the combination of two or more rays is called a beam. A ray or beam of light travels in a straight line, so any obstacle on its path would subject the light to bending around it during propagation. These are major applications in pin-hole cameras, shadows, rings of light around the sun etc.

Some significant differences between diffraction of light and that of the sound are:

i. Diffraction of light is not as common as that of sound.

ii. Sound propagates through a wider region than light waves.

iii. Sounds are longitudinal waves, while lights are transverse waves.