What happens to the frequencies of waves during diffraction?

During diffraction, the fundamental property of waves is that their frequency remains constant. This is because the frequency of a wave is determined by the source producing the wave and does not change as the wave interacts with obstacles or openings in its path.

When waves encounter an opening or an obstacle, they spread out and change direction, but their wavelength may change depending on the size of the opening and the wave's speed. However, the frequency stays the same throughout this process. Since the frequency is linked to the energy and properties of the source, it is unaffected by diffraction itself.

Understanding that the frequency does not alter allows one to grasp the principles of wave behavior better, particularly in various applications like optics and sound. This consistency serves as a key concept in wave mechanics, indicating that while wave characteristics such as wavelength and amplitude may change during diffraction, frequency will always remain a constant attribute of the wave.