PHYS 1260 Exam 4 2026 Exam
Questions and Answers | A+ Score
Assured
What is diffraction? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔bending of light (or any wave) as it
passes the edge of an object or through an opening, causing spreading
and fuzzy edges.
How is diffraction different from reflection and refraction? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Diffraction is any bending of light not caused by reflection or refraction;
instead it results from light passing edges or apertures.
,What happens to light when it passes through a wide opening compared to
the wavelength? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔It produces a sharp shadow with slightly
fuzzy edges because diffraction is minimal.
What happens to light when it passes through a very narrow slit? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔Diffraction becomes significant—the light spreads out more
and the shadow becomes fuzzy.
What does the intensity graph of a single-slit diffraction pattern show? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔A gradual change from dark to bright, with slight fringes on
either side due to interference.
Why is the edge of any shadow slightly blurred? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Because
diffraction occurs at every edge, even when it is very small.
What happens to diffraction fringes when using monochromatic vs. white
light? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Monochromatic light produces visible fringes; white
light blends them, creating a fuzzy blur.
How does wavelength affect the amount of diffraction? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Longer wavelengths diffract more; shorter wavelengths diffract less.
,Why do foghorns use low-frequency, long-wavelength sound? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Because long wavelengths bend around obstacles better and fill in
"blind spots."
Why does AM radio bend around buildings better than FM radio? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔AM wavelengths (180-550 m) are much longer than FM
wavelengths (2.8-3.4 m), so they diffract more easily.
How does the size of an object compared to wavelength affect the
shadow? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Wavelength ≈ object size → shadow is mostly
filled in
Wavelength smaller than object → sharper shadow
Why does diffraction limit microscope resolution? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔If an
object's size is similar to or smaller than the wavelength of light, diffraction
blurs the image or makes details impossible to see.
How do electron microscopes overcome the diffraction limit of light? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔They use electrons, which have much shorter wavelengths
than visible light, allowing finer detail to be resolved.
COPYRIGHT©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY
STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, How do dolphins use diffraction-related principles? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔They
use long-wavelength sounds for broad scanning and short-wavelength
ultrasound for fine detail, similar to ultrasonic imaging.
Does shorter or longer wavelength create less diffraction? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Shorter wavelength → less diffraction → sharper detail.
Why does blue light allow a microscopist to see finer detail than red light? -
🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Blue light has a shorter wavelength, so it diffracts less and
resolves smaller features.
What is the principle of superposition? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔When two waves
overlap, the total amplitude is the sum of the individual wave amplitudes.
What is interference? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔The phenomenon produced when
waves overlap and combine according to superposition.
What is constructive interference? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔When waves meet in
phase (crest + crest or trough + trough), producing a larger amplitude.
What is destructive interference? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔When waves meet out
of phase by ½ wavelength, causing cancellation.
Questions and Answers | A+ Score
Assured
What is diffraction? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔bending of light (or any wave) as it
passes the edge of an object or through an opening, causing spreading
and fuzzy edges.
How is diffraction different from reflection and refraction? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Diffraction is any bending of light not caused by reflection or refraction;
instead it results from light passing edges or apertures.
,What happens to light when it passes through a wide opening compared to
the wavelength? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔It produces a sharp shadow with slightly
fuzzy edges because diffraction is minimal.
What happens to light when it passes through a very narrow slit? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔Diffraction becomes significant—the light spreads out more
and the shadow becomes fuzzy.
What does the intensity graph of a single-slit diffraction pattern show? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔A gradual change from dark to bright, with slight fringes on
either side due to interference.
Why is the edge of any shadow slightly blurred? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Because
diffraction occurs at every edge, even when it is very small.
What happens to diffraction fringes when using monochromatic vs. white
light? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Monochromatic light produces visible fringes; white
light blends them, creating a fuzzy blur.
How does wavelength affect the amount of diffraction? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Longer wavelengths diffract more; shorter wavelengths diffract less.
,Why do foghorns use low-frequency, long-wavelength sound? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Because long wavelengths bend around obstacles better and fill in
"blind spots."
Why does AM radio bend around buildings better than FM radio? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔AM wavelengths (180-550 m) are much longer than FM
wavelengths (2.8-3.4 m), so they diffract more easily.
How does the size of an object compared to wavelength affect the
shadow? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Wavelength ≈ object size → shadow is mostly
filled in
Wavelength smaller than object → sharper shadow
Why does diffraction limit microscope resolution? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔If an
object's size is similar to or smaller than the wavelength of light, diffraction
blurs the image or makes details impossible to see.
How do electron microscopes overcome the diffraction limit of light? - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔They use electrons, which have much shorter wavelengths
than visible light, allowing finer detail to be resolved.
COPYRIGHT©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY
STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, How do dolphins use diffraction-related principles? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔They
use long-wavelength sounds for broad scanning and short-wavelength
ultrasound for fine detail, similar to ultrasonic imaging.
Does shorter or longer wavelength create less diffraction? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Shorter wavelength → less diffraction → sharper detail.
Why does blue light allow a microscopist to see finer detail than red light? -
🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Blue light has a shorter wavelength, so it diffracts less and
resolves smaller features.
What is the principle of superposition? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔When two waves
overlap, the total amplitude is the sum of the individual wave amplitudes.
What is interference? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔The phenomenon produced when
waves overlap and combine according to superposition.
What is constructive interference? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔When waves meet in
phase (crest + crest or trough + trough), producing a larger amplitude.
What is destructive interference? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔When waves meet out
of phase by ½ wavelength, causing cancellation.
