Wave diffraction refers to the bending or propagation of waves as they encounter obstacles or pass through openings in a barrier. This phenomenon occurs when waves encounter edges, corners, or openings that are comparable in size to their wavelength.
Unlike reflection or refraction, which involve changes in direction due to interaction with boundaries or changes in medium, diffraction involves the propagation of waves around obstacles or through openings, often resulting in a propagation pattern waves that extend beyond the geometric limits of the obstacle or opening.
An example of wave diffraction is the propagation of sound waves around the edges of a door or through a partially open window.
When sound waves encounter these obstacles, they diffract around them, allowing sound to be heard even in areas where direct line of sight transmission would be blocked. Similarly, water waves diffract around rocks or piers in a harbor, causing wave patterns that extend into regions that would otherwise be shielded from direct wave propagation.
A diffracted wave is a wave that has undergone diffraction, causing a change in its direction or pattern of propagation when it encounters obstacles or passes through openings.
This term describes the altered path or spreading pattern of the wave due to diffraction effects, which depend on the wavelength of the wave and the size of the obstacle or aperture.
Diffraction is best defined as the bending or propagation of waves as they encounter obstacles or pass through openings in a barrier. It is a fundamental wave phenomenon that occurs when waves interact with boundaries or discontinuities in the medium through which they propagate.
Diffraction plays an important role in various fields such as acoustics, optics and electromagnetic waves, influencing wave behavior and propagation patterns in natural and modified environments.
“Diffraction
