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How do wave effects depend on the size of the object with which the wave interacts? For example, why does sound bend around the corner of a building while light does not?

a. Wave effects are independent of object size.
b. Larger objects cause greater wave absorption.
c. Wave diffraction is more pronounced with smaller objects.
d. Object size determines the wavelength of the interacting wave.

User Yituo
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Final answer:

Wave effects, such as diffraction, depend on the wavelength of the wave in relation to the size of the object it interacts with. Sound can bend around corners because its wavelength is comparable to the size of the objects it encounters, whereas light, with its shorter wavelengths, does not exhibit the same degree of bending. To answer the multiple-choice question, the correct option is: c. Wave diffraction is more pronounced with smaller objects

Step-by-step explanation:

Wave effects are highly dependent on the size of the object with which the wave interacts. This phenomenon is called diffraction. Diffraction occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle or an opening; the wave can bend around or spread out from the obstacle.

The extent of diffraction is more pronounced if the wavelength of the wave is on the same order of magnitude as the size of the obstacle or opening.

For example, sound waves bend around the corner of a building due to their relatively long wavelengths compared to the size of the building, allowing them to diffract around corners and edges. On the other hand, light waves typically have much shorter wavelengths and do not bend around corners as readily, making light behavior more akin to rays that result in sharp shadows with little bending around objects.

To answer the multiple-choice question, the correct option is: c. Wave diffraction is more pronounced with smaller objects, relating to the comparative size of the object and the wavelength of the wave interacting with it.

User Thiago Tanaka
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