All Courses
Explore Courses UPSC Exam UPSC Test Series Free Notes EduRev Infinity Get the App Login Join for Free
Sign in Open App
Class 12 Exam  >  Class 12 Questions  >  Which of the following phenomenon cannot be e... Start Learning for Free
Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?
  • a)
    lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedge
  • b)
    The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on water
  • c)
    fringes observed from a large number of parallel slits
  • d)
    A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slit
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Clear all your Class 12 doubts with EduRev
Verified Answer
Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a...
The bright colors seen in an oil slick floating on water or in a sunlit soap bubble are caused by interference. The brightest colors are those that interfere constructively. This interference is between light reflected from different surfaces of a thin film; thus, the effect is known as thin film interference.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a...
Explanation:
Diffraction is the bending of light waves around obstacles or openings. It is a wave phenomenon that occurs when light waves encounter an obstacle or a slit that is comparable in size to their wavelength. Diffraction can explain many optical phenomena, but not all of them. The phenomenon that cannot be explained by diffraction is the rainbow fringes of an oil slick on water.

Rainbow Fringes of an Oil Slick on Water:
When light waves reflect off a thin film of oil on water, they interfere with each other to produce rainbow fringes. This phenomenon is called thin film interference, and it is not related to diffraction. Thin film interference occurs when light waves reflect off two surfaces that are very close together and are separated by a thin film of a transparent material. The thickness of the film determines the colors of the fringes, and the angle of incidence of the light waves determines the spacing between the fringes.

Other Optical Phenomena that can be Explained by Diffraction:
Diffraction can explain many other optical phenomena, including the following:

Lack of Sharp Boundary When a Point Source of Light Illuminates a Straight Edge:
When a point source of light illuminates a straight edge, the edge diffracts the light waves, causing them to bend around the edge. This diffraction creates a pattern of bright and dark fringes that gradually fade away from the edge, producing a lack of sharp boundary.

Fringes Observed from a Large Number of Parallel Slits:
When light waves pass through a large number of parallel slits, they diffract and interfere with each other to produce a pattern of bright and dark fringes. This phenomenon is called diffraction grating, and it is used in many optical instruments, such as spectrometers.

A Bulb Filament Viewed through Two Blades Held So that the Edges Form a Slit:
When a bulb filament is viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slit, the slit diffracts the light waves, causing them to bend around the edges and interfere with each other. This diffraction and interference create a pattern of bright and dark fringes that reveal the shape and structure of the filament.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, diffraction is a wave phenomenon that can explain many optical phenomena, but not all of them. The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on water are not related to diffraction, but to thin film interference.
Explore Courses for Class 12 exam

Similar Class 12 Doubts

Read the following text and answer the following questions on the basis of the same:Diffraction in a hall:A and B went to purchase a ticket of a music programme. But unfortunately only one ticket was left. They purchased the single ticket and decided that A would be in the hall during the 1st half and B during the 2nd half.Both of them reached the hall together. A entered the hall and found that the seat was behind a pillar which creates an obstacle. He was disappointed. He thought that he would not be able to hear the programme properly.B was waiting outside the closed door. The door was not fully closed. There was a little opening.But surprisingly, A could hear the music programme.This happened due to diffraction of sound.The fact we hear sounds around corners and around barriers involves both diffraction and reflection of sound.Diffraction in such cases helps the sound to "bend around" the obstacles.In fact, diffraction is more pronounced with longer wavelengths implies that we can hear low frequencies around obstacles better than high frequencies.B was outside the door. He could also hear the programme. But he noticed that when the door opening is comparatively less he could hear the programme even being little away from the door. This is because when the width of the opening is larger than the wavelength of the wave passing through the gap then it does not spread out much on the other side. But when the opening is smaller than the wavelength more diffraction occurs and the waves spread out greatly – with semicircular wavefront. The opening in this case functions as a localized source of sound.Q. A and B could hear the music programme due to phenomenon named

Read the following text and answer the following questions on the basis of the same:Diffraction in a hall:A and B went to purchase a ticket of a music programme. But unfortunately only one ticket was left. They purchased the single ticket and decided that A would be in the hall during the 1st half and B during the 2nd half.Both of them reached the hall together. A entered the hall and found that the seat was behind a pillar which creates an obstacle. He was disappointed. He thought that he would not be able to hear the programme properly.B was waiting outside the closed door. The door was not fully closed. There was a little opening.But surprisingly, A could hear the music programme.This happened due to diffraction of sound.The fact we hear sounds around corners and around barriers involves both diffraction and reflection of sound.Diffraction in such cases helps the sound to "bend around" the obstacles.In fact, diffraction is more pronounced with longer wavelengths implies that we can hear low frequencies around obstacles better than high frequencies.B was outside the door. He could also hear the programme. But he noticed that when the door opening is comparatively less he could hear the programme even being little away from the door. This is because when the width of the opening is larger than the wavelength of the wave passing through the gap then it does not spread out much on the other side. But when the opening is smaller than the wavelength more diffraction occurs and the waves spread out greatly – with semicircular wavefront. The opening in this case functions as a localized source of sound.Q. Diffraction is more pronounced with ______ wavelengths.

Read the following text and answer the following questions on the basis of the same:Diffraction in a hall:A and B went to purchase a ticket of a music programme. But unfortunately only one ticket was left. They purchased the single ticket and decided that A would be in the hall during the 1st half and B during the 2nd half.Both of them reached the hall together. A entered the hall and found that the seat was behind a pillar which creates an obstacle. He was disappointed. He thought that he would not be able to hear the programme properly.B was waiting outside the closed door. The door was not fully closed. There was a little opening.But surprisingly, A could hear the music programme.This happened due to diffraction of sound.The fact we hear sounds around corners and around barriers involves both diffraction and reflection of sound.Diffraction in such cases helps the sound to "bend around" the obstacles.In fact, diffraction is more pronounced with longer wavelengths implies that we can hear low frequencies around obstacles better than high frequencies.B was outside the door. He could also hear the programme. But he noticed that when the door opening is comparatively less he could hear the programme even being little away from the door. This is because when the width of the opening is larger than the wavelength of the wave passing through the gap then it does not spread out much on the other side. But when the opening is smaller than the wavelength more diffraction occurs and the waves spread out greatly – with semicircular wavefront. The opening in this case functions as a localized source of sound.Q. Diffraction of sound takes place more when

Read the following text and answer the following questions on the basis of the same:Diffraction in a hall:A and B went to purchase a ticket of a music programme. But unfortunately only one ticket was left. They purchased the single ticket and decided that A would be in the hall during the 1st half and B during the 2nd half.Both of them reached the hall together. A entered the hall and found that the seat was behind a pillar which creates an obstacle. He was disappointed. He thought that he would not be able to hear the programme properly.B was waiting outside the closed door. The door was not fully closed. There was a little opening.But surprisingly, A could hear the music programme.This happened due to diffraction of sound.The fact we hear sounds around corners and around barriers involves both diffraction and reflection of sound.Diffraction in such cases helps the sound to "bend around" the obstacles.In fact, diffraction is more pronounced with longer wavelengths implies that we can hear low frequencies around obstacles better than high frequencies.B was outside the door. He could also hear the programme. But he noticed that when the door opening is comparatively less he could hear the programme even being little away from the door. This is because when the width of the opening is larger than the wavelength of the wave passing through the gap then it does not spread out much on the other side. But when the opening is smaller than the wavelength more diffraction occurs and the waves spread out greatly – with semicircular wavefront. The opening in this case functions as a localized source of sound.Q. The minimum and maximum frequencies in the musical programme were 550 Hz and 10 kHz. Which frequency was better audible around the pillar obstacle?

Read the following text and answer the following questions on the basis of the same:Diffraction in a hall:A and B went to purchase a ticket of a music programme. But unfortunately only one ticket was left. They purchased the single ticket and decided that A would be in the hall during the 1st half and B during the 2nd half.Both of them reached the hall together. A entered the hall and found that the seat was behind a pillar which creates an obstacle. He was disappointed. He thought that he would not be able to hear the programme properly.B was waiting outside the closed door. The door was not fully closed. There was a little opening.But surprisingly, A could hear the music programme.This happened due to diffraction of sound.The fact we hear sounds around corners and around barriers involves both diffraction and reflection of sound.Diffraction in such cases helps the sound to "bend around" the obstacles.In fact, diffraction is more pronounced with longer wavelengths implies that we can hear low frequencies around obstacles better than high frequencies.B was outside the door. He could also hear the programme. But he noticed that when the door opening is comparatively less he could hear the programme even being little away from the door. This is because when the width of the opening is larger than the wavelength of the wave passing through the gap then it does not spread out much on the other side. But when the opening is smaller than the wavelength more diffraction occurs and the waves spread out greatly – with semicircular wavefront. The opening in this case functions as a localized source of sound.Q. How the waveform will look like outside the door of the hall?

Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for Class 12 2025 is part of Class 12 preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the Class 12 exam syllabus. Information about Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for Class 12 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for Class 12. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for Class 12 Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Which of the following phenomenon cannot be explained by diffraction?a)lack of sharp boundary when a point source of light illuminates a straightedgeb)The rainbow fringes of an oil slick on waterc)fringes observed from a large number of parallel slitsd)A bulb filament viewed through two blades held so that the edges form a slitCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice Class 12 tests.
Explore Courses for Class 12 exam
SaveJoin the Discussion on the App for FREE
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Get App
© EduRev
Education Revolution
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days!
Access 1000+ FREE Docs, Videos and Tests
Takes less than 10 seconds to signup