What term describes the bending of waves as they pass around obstacles or travel through narrow openings?

Explanation

Diffraction refers to the bending or spreading out of waves as they encounter and pass around obstacles or travel through sufficiently narrow openings, an effect that becomes especially noticeable when the size of the obstacle or opening is comparable to the wavelength of the wave involved. This phenomenon helps explain why sound can often be heard around a corner even when there is no direct line of sight to the sound’s source, since sound waves are able to bend somewhat around obstacles in their path. Diffraction can occur with various types of waves, including sound waves, water waves, and light waves, though the specific extent of bending differs considerably depending on the particular wavelength involved. Explore more Everyday Science MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.