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Diffract for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: dɪ'frækt

What does Diffract really mean?

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Hey there! So, when we talk about "diffract," we're talking about how light or sound waves spread out and change direction when they hit something, like a barrier or a small opening. It's kind of like when you throw a pebble into a pond and you see the ripples moving outwards in different directions.

So, when light waves diffract, they bend and spread out, creating those cool patterns you might see when light passes through a small hole or around the edges of an obstacle. It's like if you shine a flashlight through a hole in a piece of paper, the light would spread out and make a circle on the wall instead of just shining straight through.

And for sound waves, when they diffract, they also spread out and can bend around obstacles, which is why you can hear someone talking even if they're behind a wall or a closed door. It's kind of like when you're whispering to a friend in class, the sound waves can curve around and still reach their ears.

So in simple terms, "diffract" means that waves, like light or sound, spread out and change direction when they encounter an obstacle, creating cool patterns and allowing them to bend around corners. Cool, right? I hope that helps you understand the word “diffract” a little better!

Revised and Fact checked by Ava Clark on 2023-11-15 05:40:16

Diffract In a sentece

Learn how to use Diffract inside a sentece

  • When light passes through a narrow slit, it diffracts and creates a pattern of light and dark bands on a screen placed behind the slit.
  • Sound waves can diffract around obstacles, like buildings, and bend around corners to reach our ears.
  • X-rays can diffract when passing through a crystal, which helps scientists study the structure of materials at the atomic level.
  • Diffracted waves from a radio tower can reach around mountains and hills to provide radio signals to people in remote areas.
  • Diffracted waves in an ultrasound machine can create detailed images of the inside of the human body, helping doctors diagnose medical conditions.

Diffract Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.