Diffraction occurs when a wave encounters an obstruction in its path and will change direction, or wrap around it. In ocean waves, we see this occur when a wave encounters an object like a jetty and ...

In addition to our other problems, we must also contend with transmission (with attenuation), reflection, refraction, diffraction, absorption, and scattering. In addition to our other problems, we ...

When a wave or light ray moves from one medium to another its speed changes. The direction of the ray may also change. This property of waves is called refraction and commonly occurs with light rays.

Most people know that light travels in a straight line unless something acts upon it to change its direction. The three most common methods of changing the direction of light are refraction, ...

At the interface between two facets of an artificial crystal, sound waves can be transmitted in the opposite direction to that expected, and undergo no reflection. Such wave behaviour could have many ...

Scientists have demonstrated that negative refraction can be achieved using atomic arrays -- without the need for artificially manufactured metamaterials. Scientists have long sought to control light ...

The formation of a rainbow requires the observer to be between the sun and falling rain, with the rain in front and the sun behind. Sunlight passes from behind the observer, refracts as it enters each ...