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Reflection Refraction and Diffraction

The document discusses reflection, refraction, and diffraction of electromagnetic waves. It explains that reflection occurs when waves hit a surface, refraction is the bending of waves when passing from one medium to another, and diffraction is the spreading out of waves when passing obstacles or narrow gaps. The amount of diffraction depends on the wavelength and size of the gap or obstacle.

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Wafa Alkilani
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114 views

Reflection Refraction and Diffraction

The document discusses reflection, refraction, and diffraction of electromagnetic waves. It explains that reflection occurs when waves hit a surface, refraction is the bending of waves when passing from one medium to another, and diffraction is the spreading out of waves when passing obstacles or narrow gaps. The amount of diffraction depends on the wavelength and size of the gap or obstacle.

Uploaded by

Wafa Alkilani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 9

Reflection, Refraction and Diffraction

1 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


What happens when waves hit a surface?
When electromagnetic (EM) waves hit a surface, they can be
reflected, absorbed or transmitted.
How the waves behave depends on
their energy and the type of material
they interact with.
For example, light waves are
reflected by skin, but X-rays
transmitted through skin.
If electromagnetic waves are
absorbed, some of their energy
is transferred to the material.
This usually increases the
temperature of the material.

2 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


Investigating reflection

3 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


What is refraction?
The straw appears to be bent in the liquid.
What is causing this effect?
As the light crosses the boundary between
fluid and glass, it is bent, producing a
distorted image.
This known as refraction.

Spear fishing has been used for


centuries and is still practiced
by subsistence communities.
To accurately spear the fish,
fishermen learn to aim a short distance behind the fish’s
image, in order to compensate for the effect of refraction.

4 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


Refraction in a glass block

5 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


Understanding why light refracts

6 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


What is diffraction?
Diffraction is a property of all
waves, which can be shown
by water waves in a ripple tank.
Here, the waves travel along
until they reach a gap.
The width of the gap is similar
to the wavelength of the waves.
The waves pass through
the gap and spread out.
This is diffraction.
So, when radio waves travel
past an obstacle or through
a narrow gap, they bend or
spread out due to diffraction.

7 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


How does wavelength affect diffraction?
The amount of diffraction
depends on how the
wavelength compares with the
size of the gap.
What happens if the
wavelength is much smaller
than the width of the gap?
In this case, only the edges of
the wave front are diffracted.

Maximum diffraction occurs


when the wavelength is
similar to the gap size.

8 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013


Why can I receive radio but not TV?

9 of 9 © Boardworks Ltd 2013

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