Diffraction is a phenomenon that occurs when waves encounter an obstacle or pass through an aperture (an opening). It refers to the bending and spreading out of waves as they encounter these barriers or openings.
Diffraction can be observed with various types of waves, including light waves, sound waves, water waves, and even matter waves such as electrons. When a wave encounters an obstacle or an aperture, it interacts with the edges or the surface of the barrier, causing the wave to spread out and bend around the corners or edges.
In the case of light waves, diffraction can indeed occur when light passes through small openings, such as slits or edges of objects. When light encounters a narrow slit, for example, it diffracts and spreads out, creating an interference pattern of alternating bright and dark regions on a screen placed behind the slit. This is known as the single-slit diffraction pattern.
However, diffraction is not specific to sunlight or limited to the direction of sunlight. It is a general phenomenon that can occur with any type of wave. Diffraction is a fundamental property of waves and can be observed with various sources of waves and barriers or openings of different sizes and shapes.
The diffraction of waves around corners or obstacles is a manifestation of their wave nature and the ability to bend and spread out when encountering barriers. It is a characteristic feature of waves and plays a crucial role in many areas of physics, such as optics, acoustics, and the study of wave phenomena.