When electromagnetic waves encounter obstacles or interact with particles, they can exhibit different behaviors based on their wavelength. The phenomenon you are referring to, where smaller wavelengths retract and scatter more, is known as diffraction and scattering.
Diffraction is the bending or spreading of waves as they encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow aperture. When a wave interacts with an object that is comparable in size to its wavelength, such as a slit or an edge, it diffracts more significantly. The amount of diffraction increases as the wavelength becomes comparable to the size of the obstacle. Therefore, smaller wavelengths, such as those associated with higher frequencies, tend to diffract less compared to larger wavelengths.
Scattering, on the other hand, is the process by which light or other waves are redirected in different directions as they interact with particles or objects in their path. When an electromagnetic wave interacts with particles that are smaller than its wavelength, it tends to scatter more. This behavior is known as Rayleigh scattering and is responsible for phenomena such as the blue color of the sky, where shorter wavelengths (blue light) scatter more than longer wavelengths (red light).
The scattering and diffraction of electromagnetic waves depend on the interaction between the wave and the objects or particles it encounters. The extent of these phenomena is influenced by the size of the wavelength relative to the size of the obstacle or particle, with smaller wavelengths exhibiting less diffraction and more scattering.