scattering

Scattering is a process where particles or waves, like light or sound, encounter something that causes them to change direction or spread out. Imagine shining a flashlight into a foggy room: the light hits tiny water droplets and bounces in different directions, making the beam visible. This deflection occurs because the particles or objects are interacting with the waves, redirecting their path. Scattering helps explain phenomena like the blue sky, where sunlight disperses in the atmosphere, or how radar detects objects. It’s a fundamental process in physics that describes how energy or particles spread and change direction upon encountering obstacles or irregularities.