Which phenomenon involves the bending of waves around obstacles?

The phenomenon involving the bending of waves around obstacles is known as diffraction. When waves encounter an obstacle or a slit that is comparable in size to their wavelength, they can spread out or bend around the edges of the obstacle. This behavior is most commonly observed with sound waves and light waves. For instance, when sound waves pass through a narrow doorway, they can be heard clearly even if the source of the sound is not directly in line with the doorway.

Diffraction is a key concept in wave behavior and helps explain various phenomena in both optics and acoustics. This bending effect allows waves to propagate into regions that would otherwise be shadowed by the obstacle. Understanding diffraction is important in fields like engineering, telecommunications, and acoustics, where the management of wave propagation is essential.