Question

refraction and diffraction | quiz (graded) - 10 questions
5 which of the following is the best example of diffraction?
a your voice echoing back when you shout into a canyon
b a straw appearing to bend when you place it in a glass of water
c a prism breaking a beam of light into its component colors
d the music on your stereo getting louder when you turn up the volume

Explanation:

To determine the best example of diffraction, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Echoing in a canyon is reflection (sound waves bouncing back), not diffraction.
• Option B: A straw appearing bent in water is refraction (light bending at a medium boundary), not diffraction.
• Option C: A prism breaking light into colors is an example of diffraction (light waves spreading/ bending as they pass through the prism’s edges or gaps, separating into wavelengths/colors).
• Option D: Turning up volume increases amplitude (loudness), not related to diffraction.

Answer:

C. A prism breaking a beam of light into its component colors