A bending of waves around a barrier is called?

A bending of waves around a barrier is called?

• A. Interference
• B. Diffraction
• C. Reflection
• D. Refraction

Answer: (B)

Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves as they encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow opening. This is why waves can curl around edges, letting you hear someone around a corner or see light spreading after passing through a small slit. The amount of bending depends on how large the obstacle or opening is compared to the wavelength—the smaller the opening relative to the wavelength, the more the waves spread out. Interference is about how overlapping waves add up to create patterns of bright and dark regions. Reflection is when waves bounce off a surface. Refraction is the change in direction when waves move into a different medium with a different speed.

Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves as they encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow opening. This is why waves can curl around edges, letting you hear someone around a corner or see light spreading after passing through a small slit. The amount of bending depends on how large the obstacle or opening is compared to the wavelength—the smaller the opening relative to the wavelength, the more the waves spread out.

Interference is about how overlapping waves add up to create patterns of bright and dark regions. Reflection is when waves bounce off a surface. Refraction is the change in direction when waves move into a different medium with a different speed.