Fig. 4.2 shows two wave patterns, A and B, after passing through gaps of different widths. Which pattern shows the wave fronts emerging from the narrower gap?

APattern A

BPattern B

CBoth patterns equally

DNeither pattern

Explanation: Pattern A is from the narrow gap: its wavefronts emerge as almost complete semicircles, the signature of strong diffraction.

Derived from ZIMSEC Physics Paper 2, November 2002, Q4

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