Theory and Applications for Diffraction of Light

Abstract

The duality of light waves can sometimes be a difficult concept for high school level students to understand. To help demonstrate this dual personality the photoelectric effect often is used to show light acting as a particle (photons) and interference and diffraction can depict light’s wave nature. However, at a high school level these principles can be difficult to apply and describe in the classroom. This lesson plan focuses on the wave nature of light and utilizes real-world examples and straightforward activities to explain the complexities of interference patterns and the diffraction of electromagnetic waves