Light bends when passing the edges of objects due to diffraction, which occurs when light is treated as a wave rather than a ray. This phenomenon can be illustrated using water waves, where disturbances create concentric circles after passing through a slit, demonstrating how waves spread out. The discussion highlights that diffraction is a property of all waves, including light, sound, and water, but their propagation mechanisms differ. The bending of light at edges can be explained by induced currents on surfaces that create cylindrical waves, which are not canceled out at the edges, leading to observable diffraction patterns. Understanding these principles is crucial for grasping the behavior of light in various contexts.
