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This means that the density of the medium in which a wave moves is not part of a correct definition of diffraction. Light waves changing direction when passing through an aperture is an example of diffraction.ĭiffraction will occur if the medium that the wave travels in on either side of the aperture and within the aperture is the same. Diffraction is the change in speed of a wave that passes through an aperture.Diffraction is the change in direction of a wave that passes close to an object and changes its direction by an angle greater than 90 degrees.

Diffraction also occurs when light waves travel parallel to a surface and reach the end of the surface. The process of light waves changing direction without the waves being incident at a boundary between regions with different refractive indices is called diffraction.ĭiffraction does not only occur at gaps. In this case, though, the same substance occupies the space on either side of the gap and also within the gap. In both reflection and refraction, light waves must be incident at a boundary between regions containing substances with different refractive indices. However, the phenomenon being described in this explainer is a separate phenomenon from reflection and to refraction. Light waves can change direction due to reflection and also due to refraction. It is important to understand that the change in the direction of the light waves is neither due to the waves being reflected from the boundary nor is it due to the the light waves being refracted. Waves that pass through the gap therefore change direction. We can see in this figure that these wave fronts become longer as they move away from the gap.