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: Diffraction by a circular aperture
  8: Interactive checkpoint: Dr. Evil's evil laser
  9: Resolving power
10: Resolving power of the eye
11: Rayleigh's criterion
12: Sample problem: resolving double stars
13: Diffraction gratings
14: Physics at play: CDs and DVDs
15: Grating spectroscope optional
16: Physics at work: x-ray diffraction
17: Gotchas
18: Summary

Quiz Boards

Problems