What is the term for the bending of a wave of light when it passes through a very narrow slit or around the edge of an opaque object?

The term for the bending of a wave of light as it passes through a very narrow slit or around the edge of an opaque object is known as diffraction. This phenomenon occurs because waves spread out after passing through openings or around obstacles, creating new wavefronts. When light encounters a slit that is comparable in size to its wavelength, it does not just continue in a straight line but instead bends and spreads out, illustrating the wave nature of light.

Diffraction is essential in various fields such as optics, acoustics, and even quantum mechanics. It explains several optical effects, such as the patterns seen in the diffraction grating, where light is split into its constituent colors due to interference of waves.

Understanding this concept is crucial for opticians and professionals in the field of optics, as it helps explain how light behaves in different environments, effects related to lenses, and various optical instruments.