2. A breakwall protecting a harbour has a gap 5 metres wide to allow small watercraft to pass through. On Monday waves with a wavelength of 14 metres pass through the gap. On Tuesday, waves with a wavelength of 2 metres pass through the gap. Will an observer see more wave diffraction on Monday or Tuesday?Explain your answer. (2)

Question

2. A breakwall protecting a harbour has a gap 5 metres wide to allow small watercraft to pass through. On Monday waves with a wavelength of 14 metres pass through the gap. On Tuesday, waves with a wavelength of 2 metres pass through the gap. Will an observer see more wave diffraction on Monday or Tuesday?Explain your answer. (2)

Answer 1

observer will see more wave diffraction on **Tuesday**.Diffraction is the bending of waves as they pass through an opening or around an obstacle. The amount of diffraction is greater when the wavelength of the wave is closer to the size of the opening. Since the gap is 5 meters wide, the 2-meter wavelength waves on Tuesday will diffract more than the 14-meter wavelength waves on Monday.

Question

Solution

Answer