What happens to sound waves when they encounter a barrier?

When sound waves encounter a barrier, the phenomenon that commonly occurs is the bending around the barrier, known as diffraction. This behavior is a result of the wave nature of sound, which allows it to navigate around obstacles to some extent. The extent of diffraction depends on the size of the barrier in relation to the wavelength of the sound. If the barrier is smaller than the wavelength, considerable bending occurs; if it's larger, less diffraction is observed.

Understanding why sound can bend around barriers is essential in various fields, including acoustics and audio engineering, as it impacts how sounds are perceived in different environments. In practical applications, this property can influence sound design in places like concert halls or recording studios, ensuring that sound can reach listeners even when there are obstacles.

The other options do not accurately represent how sound behaves when it encounters a barrier. Sound waves do not completely stop upon hitting a barrier; rather, they interact with it, which can lead to reflections and absorption. While some sound waves may reflect, this can change their amplitude or angle, so they do not simply reflect back unchanged. Lastly, sound waves do not always pass through barriers completely without loss; many materials will absorb some of the sound energy, causing a reduction in volume as the waves transmit through