Name the phenomenon where an opaque object on the path of light becomes very small and where light has a tendency to bend around it and not walk in a straight line.

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Accepted Answer

The described effect — an opaque object on the path of light appearing very small because light bends around it instead of traveling strictly straight — is diffraction. Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves when they encounter an obstacle or aperture whose size is comparable to the wavelength. Key points:

1. Definition: Diffraction is the phenomenon where waves bend around obstacles and spread out after passing through small openings.
2. Condition: Diffraction becomes significant when the obstacle or aperture size $a$ is of the order of the wavelength $\lambda$ (i.e. $a\sim\lambda$).
3. Why other options are incorrect:
   - Reflection: bouncing of light from a surface, not bending around an object.
   - Angle of refraction / Angle of incidence: these are measures (angles) related to refraction/reflection, not the phenomenon of bending around obstacles.

Therefore the correct choice is (2) Diffraction of light, corresponding to option b.

FINAL_ANSWER: b

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