What property of waves allows for diffraction?

Diffraction is a phenomenon that occurs when waves encounter obstacles or openings and bend around them. This bending is a direct result of the wave nature of signals, which allows them to spread out and propagate in various directions after passing through narrow gaps or around edges. The ability of waves to diffract is a fundamental characteristic of all wave phenomena, including sound, light, and radio waves.

When considering the various options, wave speed, reflection, and amplitude do not directly relate to the process of diffraction. Wave speed pertains to how fast a wave travels through a medium, reflection involves the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier, and amplitude refers to the height of the wave, which affects its energy but does not influence how it bends around obstacles. The key to understanding diffraction lies in the intrinsic wave properties, emphasizing the importance of the wave nature of radio signals in facilitating this behavior.