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To answer your question in just two sentences....
Waves can bend around a barrier because each point of a wave is actually traveling in all directions. Whether a wave bends around a barrier or not depends on how all the points of a wave add up together.
To really understand this you want to look into Huygens principle at Wikipedia.org, "The World's Encyclopedia"
The link is in the "Related Links" section at the bottom of this answer.
Here is a quote from it..
"It recognizes that each point of an advancing wave front is in fact the center of a fresh disturbance and the source of a new train of waves; and that the advancing wave as a whole may be regarded as the sum of all the secondary waves arising from points in the medium already traversed. This view of wave propagation helps better understand a variety of wave phenomena, such as diffraction."
You also want to read up on diffraction which is a link in the above quote.
Diffraction is what you want to understand. It involves interference.
It really is the most "magical' property of waves.
A part from the question being answered above, why isobars are horizontal at the warm front sector and curve at the cold front sector?
Chan Chuol Lam
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What is it called when a mirror bends inwards or outwards?
Convex when it bends outwards, concave when it bends inwards
What problems can occur if a highway has sharp bends?
what problems can occur if a highway have sharp bends
What is the scientific explanation for the bends?
the explanation is that the bends are caused by nitrogen in the blood stream and the block up the blood way and causepain. to get rid of the bends you need to see a doctor IMMEDIATELY. TO PREVENT THE BENDS rise to the surface of the water every 15 minuets. the air will then clear you blood passage. Nitrogen in the bloodstream causes bends, which leads to blocking of the bloodstream causing pain
What is another name for decompression sickness?
The Bends
What are 3 ways that waves change direction?
Three ways that waves change direction are reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
What is it called when a wave curves or bends around a barrier?
I believe you are referring to Refraction.
What is it called when a wave bends around an obstacle?
When a wave bends around an obstacle, it is called diffraction.
What wave bends around a barrier?
with diffraction
What happens when a wave passes a barrier or moves through a hole in a barrier?
it bends and spreads out
Diffraction occurs when waves around the edge of a barrier?
Diffraction is phenomena that occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle. This happens when a wave reaches an obstacle that is comparable in size to it.
What type of fold is created when the crust bends and curves upward?
An Anticline is formed when the crust bends and curves upward.
When a light wave bends around a barrier or the edge of an opening the resulting waves can?
interfere with each other
Looping curves and bends in a river are called?
This website answers no ?s i ask...........
What is the synonym for arcs?
curves, bends, bows, arches, crescents, half-moons
What type of fold is created when the crust bends and folds downward?
Syncline is a type of fold that is created when the crust bends and curves downward. It is a fold that is convex up and has its oldest beds at its core.
How many curves on standard paper clips?
There are three bends on my paper clips.
When light is diffracted it bends around a barrier?
Yes it seems so. As per Huygen's priciple the secondary wavelets would travel even beyond the edges.
