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Diffraction vs. Refraction — What's the Difference?

Diffraction vs. Refraction — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Diffraction and Refraction

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Diffraction

Diffraction refers to various phenomena that occur when a wave encounters an obstacle or opening. It is defined as the bending of waves around the corners of an obstacle or through an aperture into the region of geometrical shadow of the obstacle/aperture.

Refraction

In physics, refraction is the change in direction of a wave passing from one medium to another or from a gradual change in the medium. Refraction of light is the most commonly observed phenomenon, but other waves such as sound waves and water waves also experience refraction.

Diffraction

Change or dispersion of the direction and intensity of a wave as it traverses an object or aperture, especially when the size of the object or aperture approximates the wavelength of the wave.

Refraction

The deflection of a wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes obliquely from one medium into another having a different index of refraction.

Diffraction

(physics) The bending of a wave around an obstacle.
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Refraction

(Astronomy) The apparent change in position of a celestial object caused by the bending of light rays as they enter Earth's atmosphere.

Diffraction

(quantum mechanics) The breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure (e.g. a slit), followed by reconstruction of the wave by interference.

Refraction

The ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina.

Diffraction

The deflection and decomposition of light in passing by the edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits, causing the appearance of parallel bands or fringes of prismatic colors, as by the action of a grating of fine lines or bars.
Remarked by Grimaldi (1665), and referred by him to a property of light which he called diffraction.

Refraction

Determination of this ability in an eye.

Diffraction

When light passes sharp edges or goes through narrow slits the rays are deflected and produce fringes of light and dark bands

Refraction

(physics) The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density.

Refraction

(metallurgy) The degree to which a metal or compound can withstand heat

Refraction

The act of refracting, or the state of being refracted.

Refraction

The change in the direction of ray of light, heat, or the like, when it enters obliquely a medium of a different density from that through which it has previously moved.
Refraction out of the rarer medium into the denser, is made towards the perpendicular.

Refraction

The change in the direction of a ray of light, and, consequently, in the apparent position of a heavenly body from which it emanates, arising from its passage through the earth's atmosphere; - hence distinguished as atmospheric refraction, or astronomical refraction.

Refraction

The change in direction of a propagating wave (light or sound) when passing from one medium to another

Refraction

The amount by which a propagating wave is bent

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