Question

Why can we readily observe diffraction effects for sound waves and water waves, but not for light? Is this because light travels so much faster than these other waves? Explain.

Short answer

There are almost no natural resources of monochromatic light and the dimensions of obstacles are very large than the wavelength of light which makes it difficult to observe the diffraction of light readily unlike sound or water waves.

Step-by-step solution

Define diffraction and necessary condition of diffraction

Diffraction is a physical phenomenon in which a wave bends around the corner of any obstacle or opening when a wave passes through the obstacle.

Diffraction takes place with sound, with electromagnetic radiation, such as light, X-rays, and gamma rays, and with very small moving particles such as atoms, neutrons, and electrons, which show wavelike properties.

Compare the diffraction of light with the diffraction of sound or water wave:

The wavelength of a sound wave in order- to . The order of the wavelength of a water wave is in meters.

For diffraction to occur with the sound wave or water wave, the condition of diffraction i.e., the dimension of the opening being comparable to the wavelength of these waves, is always fulfilled. Readily visible obstacles like a window, or gate; are meters so it is very easy for sound waves or water waves to show diffraction effects and observe them in day-to-day life.

Meanwhile, the wavelength of light is of nanometer order and there is no significant aperture of this much dimension that humans go through on daily basis. Also, the sources of monochromatic light (unique frequency) in nature are not very sufficient which makes it difficult to observe the diffraction of light.

Therefore, there are almost no natural resources of monochromatic light and the dimension of obstacles is very large than the wavelength of light which makes it difficult to observe the diffraction of light readily unlike sound or water waves.