# Explain why radio waves spread out more than visible light when each passes through a gap of the same width.

> AQA A-Level Physics (7408) — 3.3.2 Refraction, Diffraction and Interference · Explain · 5 marks

> Radio waves and visible light are both electromagnetic waves. When each passes through a gap of the same width, radio waves spread out much more than visible light.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Both radio waves and visible light undergo diffraction when passing through a gap
2. The amount of diffraction depends on the relationship between wavelength and gap width
3. Radio waves have a much longer wavelength than visible light
4. For the same gap width, the radio wave's wavelength is closer to / more comparable to the gap width than visible light's wavelength
5. Therefore radio waves diffract (spread out) significantly more than visible light through the same gap

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