Which term describes the phenomenon where a wave bends around an obstacle or passes through openings?

Which term describes the phenomenon where a wave bends around an obstacle or passes through openings?

• A. Diffraction
• B. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
• C. A wave that moves the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels
• D. The highest point of a transverse wave

Answer: (A)

Diffraction describes the bending and spreading of waves as they encounter obstacles or pass through openings. When a slit or an edge is comparable in size to the wavelength, the waves spread into areas that would otherwise be in shadow, and they can interfere with each other to form patterns. This is why light can wrap around small objects or why sound can be heard from around corners. The other descriptions refer to different wave properties: one is about waves bouncing off surfaces (reflection), another describes the motion of the medium in a transverse wave, and the last defines the crest, the highest point of a transverse wave.

Diffraction describes the bending and spreading of waves as they encounter obstacles or pass through openings. When a slit or an edge is comparable in size to the wavelength, the waves spread into areas that would otherwise be in shadow, and they can interfere with each other to form patterns. This is why light can wrap around small objects or why sound can be heard from around corners. The other descriptions refer to different wave properties: one is about waves bouncing off surfaces (reflection), another describes the motion of the medium in a transverse wave, and the last defines the crest, the highest point of a transverse wave.