How to Bend Light by Diffraction
When light bends around on object, the bending is called diffraction. Diffraction is a quality of all waves and has been used in arguments to prove that light is a type of wave rather than particle. Here's how you can set up your own experiment to see how diffraction works.
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Instructions
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Use a candle or a small flashlight as your source of light. You want the light to be plainly visible but not so bright that it will hurt your eyes to look into it for a short amount of time.
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Place the light source about one arm's length from you. This gives you enough space to conduct the experiment, but it is also close enough that you can conduct the experiment with a fairly dim light rather than one that could hurt your eyes.
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Find two pencils. Wrap a piece of tape around the eraser end of one of the pencils so that even when the pencils are held next to each other, they are prevented from actually touching each other. You want to have this slight amount of space so that you can see through the slit made between the pencils. If they are actually touching, then you won't be able to see through the slit.
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Hold the two pieces side by side vertically, and put them close to your eye.
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Look through the slit between the two pencils to see the light source.
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Notice what happens as you move the pencils closer to each other and farther apart. The light will appear as blobs that are affected by the size of the slit that you are looking through.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't stare at the light for too long as it can hurt your eyes.
