IB skill practice

Analyse reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 4

Diffraction gap to wavelength ratio

A water wave in a music room resonance test has wavelength \(0.055\,\text{m}\) and passes through a gap of width \(0.07\,\text{m}\). Calculate the gap-to-wavelength ratio. Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the wave meaning.

Worked practice: physics data and result

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