Name the phenomenon where an opaque object on the path of light becomes very small and where light has a tendency to bend around it and not walk in a straight line.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. Diffraction of light.
Diffraction of light: This is the phenomenon where light waves bend around an obstacle or spread out after passing through an aperture that is comparable in size to the light's wavelength. It causes the light to deviate from its straight-line path, leading to the characteristic bending around objects.
Reflection of light: Reflection occurs when light waves bounce off a surface. The angle of incidence (the angle at which the light hits the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle at which light bounces off). Reflection is responsible for creating images in mirrors or shiny surfaces but does not involve light bending around objects.
Angle of refraction: Refraction is the change in direction of light as it passes from one medium to another (like from air to water). The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted light ray and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface). Refraction causes light to bend at the interface between two different media but doesn't involve bending around objects.
Angle of incidence: The angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming light ray and the normal to the surface at the point of incidence. This concept is relevant to reflection and refraction but does not describe the bending of light around an object.