IB skill practice

Analyse reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 5

Diffraction strength from gap size

Water waves in a concert hall acoustics test have wavelength \(0.9\,\text{cm}\) and pass through a gap of width \(0.65\,\text{cm}\). Calculate the ratio \(a/\lambda\). Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the wave physics.

Worked practice: physics data and result

Read the physical quantities first, then calculate the result and state what it means.