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1.5 Diffraction of Waves

Definition : The spread of waves when waves pass through a gap or bend around an obstacle.

Effect of diffraction of waves:

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Speed
f

Does not change


Does not change
Does not change

Amplitude

Decreases

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a) Diffraction of water waves:

1. Slit

i) Slit size

i) Slit size >

ii) The degree of diffraction is larger

ii) The degree of diffraction is smaller

The effect of diffraction is obvious if the shape of the diffracted waves is more circular.

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2. Obstacle

i) Obstacle size

i) Obstacle size >

ii) The degree of diffraction

ii) The degree of diffraction is smaller

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b) Diffraction of light waves

Diffraction of light through a single slit

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Wider Slit

The effect of diffraction is obvious if


1. the size of the gap or obstacle is small enough.

2. the wavelength is large enough.

c) Diffraction of sound waves

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1. A listener is requested to stand on the other side of the corner of the wall so that the radio is beyond his
vision.
2. The listener is able to hear the sound although it is behind the wall.
3. It is because the sound spreads around the corner of the wall due to diffraction.

We can hear the sound of a radio placed nearby


a corner of a wall but we cannot see the radio.
Why?

Sound waves can be diffracted easily in comparison


to light waves because the wavelength of sound
waves is much longer than the wavelength of light
waves.

1. Diagram 1 shows the pattern of water waves moving towards a gap between two walls at a water theme park.
The frequency of the water wave is 5 Hz.

a) i) On Diagram 1, draw the pattern of water waves after passing through the gap.

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[1m]

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ii) Name the wave phenomenon involved.

[1m]

Diffraction

b) Calculate the speed of the water waves.

[2m]

v=f
= 5 x 0.8
= 4 m s-1

c) Explain how this phenomenon occurs.


When water waves with wavelength larger than the size gap passing through the gap, the waves are spread over
a wider area. The amplitude of waves decreases.

2. Diagram 2.1 shows the arrangement of the apparatus for an experiment to study a wave phenomenon.
Diagram 2.2 shows the wave pattern formed on the screen when a plane wave pass through the gap.

Diagram 2.1

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Diagram 2.2

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a) Name the wave phenomenon studied in this experiment.

[1m]

Diffraction

b) Observe Diagram 2.2. Compare the wavelength and the wave pattern of the waves before and after passing
through the gap.
[2m]
The wavelengths before and after passing through the gap are equal. The plane waves become circular waves
after passing through the gap.

c) i) State any change to the amplitude of the waves after passing through the gap.

[1m]

The amplitude decreases

ii) Explain the answer in c) i)

The wave energy is spread over a wider area after passing through the gap. The energy per unit area decreases.

d) The gap is made wider.


i) What is the effect on the waves passing through the gap?

[1m]

Less diffracted

ii) In the space below, draw the wave pattern after passing through the wider gap.

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[2m]

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3. Diagram 3.1 shows a water wave passing through a log that floats in water. Diagram 3.2 shows a student
standing at one corner of a building at B who can hear the sound from a loudspeaker at A.

Diagram 3.1

Diagram 3.2

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a) Based on Diagram 3.1 and Diagram 3.2,

i) What happens to the waves after passing round the log and the corner of the building?

[1m]

The waves spread over a wider area / The waves are diffracted.

ii) What happens to the amplitude of the waves after passing round the log and the corner of the building?
Explain your answer.
[2m]
The amplitude decreases as the wave energy is spread over a wider area. The energy per unit area decreases.

iii) Name the wave phenomenon in Diagram 3.1 and Diagram 3.2.

[1m]

Diffraction

iv) What will happen to the speed of the water waves after passing through the log?

[1m]

Remains unchanged

b) Referring to Diagram 3.1, what will happen to a floating object that is placed at
i) P

[1m]

Oscillates vertically

ii) Q
Stationary

4. Diagram 4.1 shows water waves passing through the entrance of a model harbour.

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[1m]

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Diagram 4.1
a) i) Name the type of wave of water wave.

[1m]

Transverse wave

ii) State why the wave shape is only slightly change after passing the gap.

[1m]

The size of gap is bigger than the wavelength

b) Diagram 4.2 shows the cross section of the waves before passing through the gap. In Diagram 4.2, draw the
cross section of the waves after passing through the gap.

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Diagram 4.2

c) The model harbour in diagram 4.1 is to be used for commercial purposes. Suggest modifications to the
harbour wall that enables it

i) to sustain the impact of the water waves.

[2m]

The wall is made of reinforced concrete which is strong, able to withstand the impact of big waves.

ii) to reduce the impact of the water waves on the shore.

[2m]

The wall has many holes to diffract the waves. The wave energy is reduced after diffraction.

d) During dry season large ship is advised not to shelter at the harbour. Explain this situation and suggest a
method to load and unload the ship.
[2m]
The water is shallow. The ship can be loaded and unloaded by using small boats.

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5. Diagram 5 shows a radio is placed near the corner of a wall. A boy is standing around the next corner.

When the radio is switched on, the boy can hear the sound from the radio but he cannot see the radio. Explain
this situation.
- Sound can be heard because it is diffracted around the corner.
- Sound wave has longer wavelength than light wave.
- The effect of diffraction is more obvious if the wavelength is large enough.
-Thus, diffraction of sound waves is more obvious as compared to light waves.

6. Strong retaining wall is usually built in the sea near a harbour jetty to protect the boats from being damaged
by strong waves. You are asked to give suggestions on building a retaining wall in front of a new harbour. Four
models for the structure of the wall with their suggested locations and characteristics are shown in Table 6.

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Study the specifications in Table 6. Explain the suitability of the specifications and determine the most suitable
model. Justify your choice.

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7. Diagram 7 shows the seashore of a fishing village. During the rainy season, waves are big and will erode the
seashore and collapse the jetty. To prevent similar damage in the future, the fishermen intend to build retaining
walls and relocate the jetty. Make further suggestions of ways to help the fishermen solve their problems.

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Essay

1. The diagram below shows the pattern of sea waves when approaching the beach.

Water waves

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a) i) Name the wave phenomenon as shown in the diagram.

[1m]

Refraction

ii) Refer to your answer in a) i), explain in terms of wave phenomena, why the waves follow the shape of the
beach as it approaches the sea shore.
[4m]
-Water waves propagate from deep region to shallow region as the waves approaching the beach.
- The speed of water waves and the wavelength decrease.
-The waves undergo refraction and are refracted towards the normal.
- The wavefronts become closer to each other, bend and follow the shape of coastline at the beach.

b) The beach in the diagram below will be used as a place where fisherman boats are kept.

You are assigned to investigate the design of the location to keep the boats and the characteristics of the
retaining wall as shown in the diagram above based on the following aspects:

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-the location to keep the boat.


-material used for the retaining wall.
-the height of retaining wall
-size of slit

Explain the suitability of the location and the characteristics of the retaining wall and determine the most
suitable design to keep the boat safely.
[10m]

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c) The diagram below shows water waves experiment in a ripple tank.

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i) Calculate the frequency of water waves at Region Q if the speed of the waves at Region Q is 0.25 m s-1.[2m]

v=f
0.25= f x 0.015
f = 16.67 Hz

ii) Calculate the wavelength of the water waves at Region P, if the wave speed decreases to 0.12 m s-1.

[2m]

v=f
0.12 = 16.67 x
= 0.007m/ 0.7 cm

iii) What will happen to the angle of deviation, if wavelength of water waves at Region Q is increased? [1m]
Remains unchanged

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