Diffraction topics include: Light diffraction, plane diffraction grating, prism and grating spectra difference, grating resolving power, fresnel and fraunhofer diffraction. Diffraction is the bending or spreading out of waves as they pass through an obstacle or aperture. It can occur with sound, electromagnetic radiation, and very small moving particles.  Diffraction occurs when the size of the obstacle or aperture is similar to the wavelength of the incident wave. For example, when light waves pass near a barrier, they bend around the barrier and spread out.  Diffraction can also occur... Show more

Diffraction topics include: Light diffraction, plane diffraction grating, prism and grating spectra difference, grating resolving power, fresnel and fraunhofer diffraction.

Diffraction is the bending or spreading out of waves as they pass through an obstacle or aperture. It can occur with sound, electromagnetic radiation, and very small moving particles. 

Diffraction occurs when the size of the obstacle or aperture is similar to the wavelength of the incident wave. For example, when light waves pass near a barrier, they bend around the barrier and spread out. 
Diffraction can also occur with waves interfering with each other, resulting in different wave patterns. 
Diffraction patterns can provide the atomic structure of molecules, such as powders, small molecules, or larger ordered molecules like protein crystals. In X-ray crystallography, X-rays are aimed at a crystal, which diffracts the X-ray and makes a diffraction pattern. This pattern is unique to the type of crystal and can be used to identify the molecule that makes the crystal. 
Diffraction gratings are often used in lasers for wavelength tuning. This involves calibrating the laser to emit a specific wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. 
 

Related: 

Engineering Physics Practice Test: Introduction to Optics

Engineering Physics Practice Test: Light Inference and Young’s Experiment

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