Diffraction Vs Reflection

Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves, such as light or sound, as they encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow aperture. This phenomenon occurs because waves have the ability to propagate in various directions, leading to interference patterns that can be observed when waves overlap. In optics, diffraction can be seen in the behavior of light when it passes through slits or around edges, resulting in patterns of bright and dark regions due to constructive and destructive interference.

Reflection is the change in direction of a wave when it strikes a surface, allowing it to bounce back into the original medium. In optics, this is most commonly observed with light waves hitting reflective surfaces, such as mirrors. The angle at which the light strikes the surface (the angle of incidence) is equal to the angle at which it reflects off (the angle of reflection). Reflection is a fundamental principle in the design of optical devices and is essential for creating images in cameras, telescopes, and other visual instruments.