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Physics

Diffraction

Quick fact

Diffraction is why a CD or DVD creates a rainbow pattern: the tiny grooves act like a diffraction grating, splitting white light into its colors.

Why this is interesting

Have you ever noticed that sound travels around a corner, allowing you to hear someone in another room, but light from that same person is blocked? That's diffraction at work—showing that both light and sound are waves that can bend around obstacles.