Definition

The bending and spreading of waves, such as light or sound, when they pass around an obstacle or through a narrow opening.

Example

The diffraction of light through a prism creates a beautiful spectrum of colors.

Conversation

Have you ever heard about the concept of diffraction?

Yeah, isn’t that when waves change direction after hitting an obstacle?

Exactly! I was reading about how it affects light and sound waves too.

That’s really interesting! I love how physics explains so many everyday phenomena.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Diffraction → It is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "frangere" (meaning to break). The word describes the phenomenon where waves break apart as they encounter an obstacle or opening.

Memory Tip

Think of waves 'breaking apart' ('dis-' means apart and 'frangere' means to break) when they encounter an obstacle, which helps you remember that diffraction refers to this wave behavior.

Visually Confused Words