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Can someone explain to me why waves do not "affect" an object that is shorter than its wavelength?
For example, a popcorn kernel cannot be heated by a photon with a wavelength larger than the size of the kernel, or a sound from a tuba cannot be heard when one is standing in front of it unless the sound coming out from it travels a distance of at least one of its wavelength (sound travels maybe 4 feet in tuba but the wavelength of the sound is 8 feet so the listener would have to stand 4 feet away from the tuba in order to hear the sound).
I'll elaborate more if you need me to.
For example, a popcorn kernel cannot be heated by a photon with a wavelength larger than the size of the kernel, or a sound from a tuba cannot be heard when one is standing in front of it unless the sound coming out from it travels a distance of at least one of its wavelength (sound travels maybe 4 feet in tuba but the wavelength of the sound is 8 feet so the listener would have to stand 4 feet away from the tuba in order to hear the sound).
I'll elaborate more if you need me to.