Diffraction is a phenomenon in physics that occurs when waves encounter an obstacle or aperture and bend around it, spreading out into the regions of geometric shadow. This effect is most commonly observed with waves like light, sound, or water waves. Diffraction patterns are characterized by the bending and spreading of waves beyond the geometrical boundaries that would be predicted by simple geometric optics. A common example is single-slit diffraction, where light passing through a narrow slit creates a pattern of alternating light and dark regions on a screen. Double-slit diffraction involves two closely spaced slits and results in interference patterns. In essence, diffraction is a phenomenon that arises due to the interaction of waves with obstacles or openings. It’s a crucial concept in wave optics and has widespread applications in understanding the behavior of waves in different physical systems.
