Diffraction
Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves, such as light, when they encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow opening. This phenomenon occurs because waves can interact with their environment, creating patterns of light and dark areas known as interference patterns. In optics, diffraction explains why sharp shadows are rarely formed and helps in understanding the behavior of lenses and imaging systems. It illustrates how light behaves not just as a ray, but as a wave, revealing a more complex picture of how we perceive images and details in our surroundings.
Additional Insights
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Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves, such as light or sound, as they pass around obstacles or through narrow openings. When a wave encounters an edge or slit, it doesn't simply travel in a straight line; instead, it expands outward in a new pattern. This phenomenon is why you might see light patterns or hear sounds even when the source is not directly in your line of sight. Diffraction plays a significant role in various fields, including optics and acoustics, and helps explain phenomena such as the colorful patterns in soap bubbles and the clarity of distant sounds.