IB Physics C3 Notes

This page contains our IB Physics notes for C3. By reading each one of these notes, you will fully cover the content for IB Physics 'Further wave phenomena'.

All Topic 3 Sub-topics C1: Simple Harmonics (HL)C1: Further simple harmonics C2: Wave Models C3: Wave Phenomena (HL)C3: Further wave phenomena C4: Standing Waves & Resonance C5: Doppler Effect (HL)C5: Further Doppler effects

Checking your access to read these notes...

Chapters

1. Further single slit diffraction

2. White light diffraction

3. Double slit diffraction

4. Diffraction gratings

5. Total internal reflection

Loading progress...

Further single slit diffraction

Remember that a single-slit diffraction pattern contains a central maximum intensity followed by minima and maxima of decreasing amplitude and intensity, as shown below:

To calculate the angle of the first minimum (θ), based on slit width (b) and wavelength (λ), use the formula:

$sin \theta = \frac{\lambda}{b}$

If the angle is less than 12.5°, small angle approximation can be used, changing the formula to:

$\theta = \frac{\lambda}{b}$

The relative intensities and amplitudes of the first few maxima are outlined in the table below:

Maximum	Central	1st maximum	2nd maximum
Amplitude	A_max	1/3rd A_max	1/5th A_max
Intensity	I_max	1/9th I_max	1/25th I_max

tibertutor.com

Next Up

You have completed the sub-topic C3 notes, covering "Further wave phenomena" for IB Physics - continue with related resources below or explore the full IB Physics course from the IBO.

Other Sub-topic C3 resources