
108 Questioning the Universe: Concepts in Physics
(a)
(b)
FIGURE 11.5 (See color insert following page 102.) Diffraction of waves through an open-
ing. In the upper part of the gure (a), the opening is small or comparable to the wavelength,
and a good deal of the wave is bent behind the barrier. On the lower part (b), the opening is a
good deal larger than the wavelength, and most of the wave goes forward, more like particles
would behave. (From Chiu-King Ng; www.ngsir.netforms.com)