Question
A wave is approaching a barrier that has a small hole at the center.
Which describes the change in the wave as it encounters the barrier?
The wave will slow down.
The wave will increase its speed.
The wave will bend, or diffract.
The wave will bounce back in the opposite direction, or reflect.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
As the wave encounters the barrier with a small hole at the center, the wave will bend, or diffract. Diffraction occurs when a wave passes through an opening or around an obstacle, causing it to spread out and change direction. This effect is particularly noticeable when the size of the opening is on the order of the wavelength of the wave.