The phenomenon that occurs when a wave bends around an obstacle is known as diffraction. This bending of waves can be observed in various contexts, including sound waves, light waves, and water waves. When waves encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow opening, they spread out and create patterns of interference. Diffraction is significant in many fields, such as acoustics, optics, and telecommunications, as it helps explain phenomena like sound propagation and the behavior of light around objects.