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Re: Why called diffraction?

Diffraction is a manifestation of interference. A geometrical
picture of planes, used to justify Bragg's formula, gives the
same result as a wave description, I suppose.
Ludwik Kowalski

On Tuesday, Apr 22, 2003, at 20:21 US/Eastern, SSHS KPHOX wrote:

We were talking about X-ray diffraction from crystal lattices in class
yesterday. The interference that shows the maxima comes from reflection
from the different planes if I read / understand correctly. So one of
my
bright students asks "why" is it called diffraction? Thin film
interference is not called diffraction and yet it is interference due
to
reflections.

I had no answer. Why is it called diffraction? Or is my understanding
of
the process flawed?