Main Table of Contents

  0: Introduction
  1: Diffraction
  2: Huygens' principle
  3: Physics at work: computer chips
  4: Single-slit diffraction
  5: Single-slit diffraction: locating the minima
  6: Interactive checkpoint: calculating minima in single-slit diffraction
  7: Single-slit diffraction: intensity
  8: Interactive checkpoint: calculating the intensity in single-slit diffraction
  9: Double-slit interference with diffraction
10: Diffraction by a circular aperture
11: Interactive checkpoint: Dr. Evil's evil laser
12: Resolving power
13: Resolving power of the eye
14: Rayleigh's criterion
15: Sample problem: resolving double stars
16: Diffraction gratings
17: Physics at play: CDs and DVDs
18: Grating spectroscope
19: Diffraction grating pattern: width of maxima
20: Diffraction grating: dispersion and resolution
21: Sample problem: resolving spectral lines
22: Physics at work: x-ray diffraction
23: Gotchas
24: Summary

Quiz Boards

Problems