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Figure 5
An alternative to drawing is to use matches to study the geometry of Bragg's law. Here, the length of a match corresponds to half the wavelength of the used X-rays. In this case the goal for the participants is to find an arrangement of the matches where the imaginary dashed blue lines, which link the upper anchor point with the head of the match, make a right angle. This puzzle is a very useful method to understand Bragg's law that for a given matchstick length (λ/2) and lattice spacing, there is always only one configuration that will satisfy the required right-angle condition.

Journal logoCRYSTALLOGRAPHIC
COMMUNICATIONS
ISSN: 2056-9890
Volume 81| Part 12| December 2025| Pages 1195-1199
https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989025010576
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