Final answer:
A beam can have a thinner diameter than its wavelength, leading to diffraction spreading, which is supported by Huygens's principle. Diffraction is a wave characteristic that occurs for all types of waves, including light, sound, and electromagnetic waves, and is not limited to objects larger than the wavelength.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses the concept of diffraction and its relationship to the diameter of a beam in relation to its wavelength.
Huygens's Principle and Beam Diameter
A beam can indeed have a thinner diameter than its wavelength; however, this causes a significant diffraction spreading. According to Huygens's principle, every point on a wavefront acts as a source of wavelets that spread out in the forward direction. When a beam's diameter is on the order of the wavelength or smaller, wavelets interfere with each other, leading to diffraction. Therefore, the correct answers respectively are: 1: it CAN have a thinner diameter and 5: for objects larger than the wavelength of the wave.
Understanding Diffraction
Diffraction occurs when waves bend around edges of openings or obstacles, and it is a behavior exhibited by all types of waves including light waves. It is not limited to light but applies to other waves such as sound and electromagnetic waves. Therefore, diffraction can occur at any dimension, for any objects, and is particularly notable when an object's size is comparable to the wavelength of the impinging wave.