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They both involve light bending. Refraction is where light bends because of entering a denser (or less dense) medium, so it slows and changes direction, moving towards the "normal" if it is entering a more dense medium and away from the "normal" when entering a less dense medium. The normal is a perpendicular imaginary line from the medium.

Diffraction involves any wave bending as it hits a corner. An example is light being seen through fog or clouds where light fringes of light and dark bands are produced. this happens to any wave.

So the similarities are that they both involve light bending. Hope that answers your question!

For GENERAL WAVES:

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it enters a new medium at an angle. When a wave enters a medium at an angle, refraction occurs because one side of the wave moves more slowly than the other side (one side needs to cover more distance = faster while other side needs to cover less distance = slower speed)

Diffraction is the bending of a wave as it moves around an obstacle or passes through a narrow opening. A wave diffracts more if its wavelength is large compared to the size of an opening or obstacle.

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Adolfo Mosciski

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3y ago

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