Diffraction Definition

dĭ-frăkshən
noun
Change in the directions and intensities of a group of waves after passing by an obstacle or through an aperture whose size is approximately the same as the wavelength of the waves.
American Heritage
The breaking up of a ray of light into dark and light bands or into the colors of the spectrum, caused by the interference of one part of a beam with another, as when the ray is deflected at the edge of an opaque object or passes through a narrow slit.
Webster's New World
A similar breaking up of other waves, as of sound or electricity.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Diffraction

Noun

Singular:
diffraction
Plural:
diffractions

Origin of Diffraction

  • New Latin diffrāctiō diffrāctiōn- from Latin diffrāctus past participle of diffringere dis- apart dis– frangere to break bhreg- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Diffraction Sentence Examples

  • From the measured distances of the diffraction bands the width of the slit may be easily deduced.

  • By this procedure the width of the central band in the diffraction pattern is halved, and so far an advantage is attained.

  • In 1799 he was induced by his fellow-student, Henry Brougham, to study the diffraction of light.

  • If the image of the line be =o, the intensity at any point E, n of the diffraction pattern may be represented by ?2a2t2 S A2f2 the same law as obtains for a luminous point when horizontal directions are alone considered.

  • Gouy has studied the more simple case of diffraction at a straight' edge.

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Words Starting With

DDIDIF

Words Ending With

NONION

Unscrambles

diffraction

Words Starting With D and Ending With N

Starts With D & Ends With NStarts With DI & Ends With NStarts With D & Ends With ON

Word Length

11 Letter Words11 Letter Words Starting With D11 Letter Words Ending With N