Final answer:
The correct term for sound waves passing through or around physical barriers is diffraction, which allows sound to be heard even through obstacles like walls or around corners because the sound waves spread out and bend.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon of sound waves passing through or around physical barriers is known as diffraction. Diffraction occurs when waves encounter an obstacle or pass through an opening, causing them to spread out and bend around the edges. For example, this is why you can hear sound from a nearby room even if there is a wall or corner blocking the direct path of the sound waves. The wavelengths of sound are generally on the same order of magnitude as everyday objects like doors, which facilitates this behavior. Unlike sound, light has much shorter wavelengths and doesn't diffract as noticeably with everyday-sized openings, hence it doesn't bend into rooms to the same extent as sound does.