National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

The term that describes the bending of a wave around an obstacle is diffraction. Diffraction occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle or a slit that is comparable in size to its wavelength. As the wave passes through or around the obstacle, it spreads out and alters its direction. This phenomenon is observable in various types of waves, including sound waves, light waves, and water waves.

In contrast to diffraction, deflection typically refers to the change in direction of a wave when it interacts with a barrier or edge, but it does not specifically address the bending around an obstacle. Refraction involves the change in direction of waves as they pass from one medium to another at an angle, influenced by the difference in the medium's properties. Reflection describes the bouncing back of a wave when it encounters a surface that does not absorb the wave's energy. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why diffraction is the correct term for the bending of waves around obstacles.