Can light bend around a corner?

Answer 1

It doesn't - light travels straight (well it is slightly effected by gravity and will bend slightly which is only apparent over GREAT distances - this allows cosmologist to figure cool things out about the universe). However, in general, light doesn't bend, it goes really fast in a very very straight line. A beam of light is made up of photons, the individual 'particles' of light. Nothing in space goes as fast and they are very very small so unless they hit something (Newtonian physics, bodies in motion, etc.) they don't change directions. i.e. Bend corners.

BUT - light does get effected by physics and 'bounces' off things even very small things like particles in the atmosphere. Diffusion. Since a single source of light puts about gazillions of photons as these photons hit things (including the air we breath) they bounce off and change direction causing the light to spread out and diffuse.

Depending on the wavelength, spectrum, and ? some light will diffuse more than other (light bulb versus laser). Here is a neat example, a remote for your TV uses infra-red light (not a lot of diffusion). Under the right circumstance bouncing the remote off a wall can be more effective than pointing it straight at the set. Depending on the angle, dust collection, recess, etc of the receiving and sending diodes you have on the remote and TV may cause the signal to require a 'good shot'. You point it straight at the set you get little spread (diffusion) and the signal is not communicated - try making a bounce shot off a wall - the signal get more diffused (light bouncing and spreading in more directions) and possibly more likely to hit the receiver in such a direction that the signal is properly communicated (i.e. the channel changes). Don't misunderstand, it is also likely your battery is going dead - it's just an example.

In case you were wondering about fiber optics:

Fiber optics - fiber cables (cables that carry light signals) typically come in Laser or Infra-red (and either single-mode or multi-mode). Fiber designed for long runs using single-mode laser can send 'flashes of light' several miles. Shorter run uses infra-red ('bounces' more) multi mode and only works over 1000-2000 ft. In either scenario the light does not go around corners when you bend the cable - the fiber optics are wrapped in a reflective coating causing the light to efficiently bounce along the path and not escape.

Answer 2

Yes, light can bend around a corner through a process called diffraction, where the waves scatter as they encounter an obstacle or aperture. This phenomenon is more noticeable with longer wavelengths such as radio waves, but can also occur with visible light to a certain extent.

Answer 3

Yes and no. Light can be bent by Gravity, but going around a corner would require an unusually strong gravity source. Besides, even if you had such a source, such as a black hole, the "bend" would be elliptical outside of the event horizon, not "around a corner", as the question seems to imply.

Answer 4

light does not pass around a corner naturally because light travels in straight lines. Light does not bend unless there is an object that will bend the light for example a mirror.

Answer 5

You would need some kind of mirror or perhaps optical fiber.

Answer 6

the gravity of the object (the corner) pulls the light towards it - bear in mind this only works on slight bends

Answer 7

Mirrors and fiber optics would both transmit light around a corner.