Diffraction
noun
A bending of light or sound around an object or corner.
The diffraction of the sunlight through the glass caused a rainbow pattern on the floor.
Often appears as...
- diffraction pattern
- diffraction grating
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A bending of light or sound around an object or corner.
The diffraction of the sunlight through the glass caused a rainbow pattern on the floor.
Often appears as...
- diffraction pattern
- diffraction grating
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Scientific Context
Used mainly in physics and engineering to describe wave behavior.
In our physics class, we discussed light diffraction and its effects.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Light
Diffraction can also apply to sound waves bending around obstacles.
The diffraction of sound around the building allowed us to hear the music.
Pro Tip 3/3Observable Phenomenon
Diffraction creates patterns that can be seen, like rainbows from a CD.
We observed a colorful diffraction pattern when shining a light on a CD.
Pro Tip 1/3Scientific Context
Used mainly in physics and engineering to describe wave behavior.
In our physics class, we discussed light diffraction and its effects.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Light
Diffraction can also apply to sound waves bending around obstacles.
The diffraction of sound around the building allowed us to hear the music.
Pro Tip 3/3Observable Phenomenon
Diffraction creates patterns that can be seen, like rainbows from a CD.
We observed a colorful diffraction pattern when shining a light on a CD.
Pro Tip 1/3Scientific Context
Used mainly in physics and engineering to describe wave behavior.
In our physics class, we discussed light diffraction and its effects.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Light
Diffraction can also apply to sound waves bending around obstacles.
The diffraction of sound around the building allowed us to hear the music.
Pro Tip 3/3Observable Phenomenon
Diffraction creates patterns that can be seen, like rainbows from a CD.
We observed a colorful diffraction pattern when shining a light on a CD.
Never forget "Diffraction"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The secret lives of...
diffraction and the results are very positive so far seems to indicate that indeed we have found some pigments and since we know for sure that no other artist has painted on that well before Buzzelli came in about six years later well those pigments are definitely
Video examples
How to take a picture of...
the same size to us as an orange on the surface of the moon. That makes taking a picture of it extremely difficult. Why is that? Well, it all comes down to a simple equation. Due to a phenomenon called diffraction,
Video examples
The Mystery of the Jade...
under a microscope the curator - usually would like to know the mineral composition of the object we use techniques such as x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Video examples
The secret lives of...
diffraction and the results are very positive so far seems to indicate that indeed we have found some pigments and since we know for sure that no other artist has painted on that well before Buzzelli came in about six years later well those pigments are definitely
Video examples
How to take a picture of...
the same size to us as an orange on the surface of the moon. That makes taking a picture of it extremely difficult. Why is that? Well, it all comes down to a simple equation. Due to a phenomenon called diffraction,
Video examples
The Mystery of the Jade...
under a microscope the curator - usually would like to know the mineral composition of the object we use techniques such as x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
C. V. Raman
Indian Physicist
The fundamental importance of the subject of molecular diffraction came first to be recognized through the theoretical work of the late Lord Rayleigh on the blue light of the sky, which he showed to be the result of the scattering of sunlight by the gases of the atmosphere.
Quote examples
Max von Laue
German Scientist
If diffraction or interference phenomena were to be sought it was therefore necessary, in accordance with the basic principles of wave theory, to select for the test arrangement far smaller decisive dimensions than those employed in corresponding tests with visible light.
Quote examples
Stefan Hell
Romanian Physicist
I got bored with the topic; I felt this was 19th century physics. I was wondering if there was still something profound that could be made with light microscopy. So I saw that the diffraction barrier was the only important problem that had been left over.
Quote examples
Stefan Hell
Romanian Physicist
I imagined there would be a way to crack the diffraction barrier. But of course I didn't know exactly how it would work, but I had a gut feeling that there must be something, and so I tried to think about it, to be creative.
Quote examples
Louis de Broglie
French Physicist
For X-rays, the phenomenon of diffraction by crystals was a natural consequence of the idea that X-rays are waves analogous to light and differ from it only by having a smaller wavelength.
Quote examples
Dorothy Hodgkin
British Scientist
I first met the subject of X-ray diffraction of crystals in the pages of the book W. H. Bragg wrote for school children in 1925, 'Concerning the Nature of Things.
Quote examples
C. V. Raman
Indian Physicist
The fundamental importance of the subject of molecular diffraction came first to be recognized through the theoretical work of the late Lord Rayleigh on the blue light of the sky, which he showed to be the result of the scattering of sunlight by the gases of the atmosphere.
Quote examples
Max von Laue
German Scientist
If diffraction or interference phenomena were to be sought it was therefore necessary, in accordance with the basic principles of wave theory, to select for the test arrangement far smaller decisive dimensions than those employed in corresponding tests with visible light.
Quote examples
Stefan Hell
Romanian Physicist
I got bored with the topic; I felt this was 19th century physics. I was wondering if there was still something profound that could be made with light microscopy. So I saw that the diffraction barrier was the only important problem that had been left over.
Quote examples
Stefan Hell
Romanian Physicist
I imagined there would be a way to crack the diffraction barrier. But of course I didn't know exactly how it would work, but I had a gut feeling that there must be something, and so I tried to think about it, to be creative.
Quote examples
Louis de Broglie
French Physicist
For X-rays, the phenomenon of diffraction by crystals was a natural consequence of the idea that X-rays are waves analogous to light and differ from it only by having a smaller wavelength.
Quote examples
Dorothy Hodgkin
British Scientist
I first met the subject of X-ray diffraction of crystals in the pages of the book W. H. Bragg wrote for school children in 1925, 'Concerning the Nature of Things.
Example 1 of 6
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension