What occurs when an object causes a wave to change direction and bend around it?

When an object causes a wave to change direction and bend around it, this phenomenon is called diffraction. Diffraction occurs when waves encounter an obstacle or a slit that is comparable in size to their wavelength. As the waves pass around the obstacle or through the slit, they spread out and can bend. This bending can result in the waves propagating into regions that are geometrically not in line with the direction of the incoming wave.

Understanding diffraction is essential in various fields, such as optics and acoustics, as it helps explain phenomena like the patterns of sound and light around barriers. This is particularly evident when considering sound waves traveling around corners or light waves bending around the edges of objects, which can be observed in everyday life.

In contrast, other phenomena like reflection, refraction, and transmission have distinct characteristics. Reflection involves waves bouncing back after hitting a surface, refraction occurs when waves change speed and direction as they pass from one medium to another, and transmission refers to the wave passing through a material without being absorbed. Each of these processes has its own implications and applications, but the specific behavior of bending around objects is uniquely associated with diffraction.