What exactly is diffraction?

[Alice Chang 2H]

Not sure if someone has already asked this, but I was wondering what diffraction actually is? I looked at the definition which basically defined it as waves that come out of a narrow aperture after a light passes through.
But what is diffraction useful for? Is it measurable and we can use it to find other properties of light?
I'm so lost on this topic LOL

[Sean1F]

Hey Alice,

I had the same question! I just assumed it was some typeof divergence, but the definition seems to be exclusive to this topic.

[Rohan Kubba Dis 4B]

Diffraction, in our context, refers to the patterns of high and blow intensities generated by an object in the path of a ray of light. Basically, it is referring to the idea of constructive and destructive interference that shows the wave-like properties of electromagnetic rays.

[GFolk_1D]

Hi! I was a bit confused about this topic as well and found this video to be really clear! Hope this helps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bHipDSHVG4