Tim

===  Diffraction of Waves **: Waves Bending Around an Object** **When light (a wave) passes around an object, it bends slightly around it. For example, if an eclipse were to happen (dissapearance of the sun when the moon comes between the earth and the sun) you are still able to see the light rim around the moon coming from behind emmited by the sun. You are able to see the light around the moon even though the moon has completely blocked the sun because light bends around an object, allowing you to see a thin rim of light around the moon. When waves involve a change of direction due to an object in their path, or when the wave passes through a small opening, this is called DIFFRACTION. The illustration below shows how this phenomenon works. This could be easily demonstrated by filling a tank with water and disturb the water surface so that it ripples throughout the tank with obstacles within the paths of the rippling waves. Anatomy of a Wave Types of Waves **===