<p>I was hoping that astronomy enthusiasts/scientists would help me out with a simple question about light. Hold your outstretched hand up to any bright light source (the sun, or even a light bulb) so that the light is completely blocked by at least one finger, and then slowly move your finger to the side until the light just peeks around. <strong>There seems to be a glow when you do this, and I was wondering what causes this.</strong></p>

<p>Is the light bending around my finger from some sort of diffraction? What's going on?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-22T20:22:41.487Z
That's by [refraction][1] and [light scattering][2]. [Diffraction][3] occurs, but is too weak to be noticeable.


  [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction
  [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_scattering
  [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction
Gerald
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-22T20:26:02.537Z
This question appears to be off-topic because it is about physics.
Gerald
<light>
Is light bending around my finger?
Keith
# Is light bending around my finger?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-22)

I was hoping that astronomy enthusiasts/scientists would help me out with a simple question about light. Hold your outstretched hand up to any bright light source (the sun, or even a light bulb) so that the light is completely blocked by at least one finger, and then slowly move your finger to the side until the light just peeks around. **There seems to be a glow when you do this, and I was wondering what causes this.**

Is the light bending around my finger from some sort of diffraction? What's going on?

**Tags:** light
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That's by [refraction][1] and [light scattering][2]. [Diffraction][3] occurs, but is too weak to be noticeable.     [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction   [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_scattering   [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction  
> **username_1**: This question appears to be off-topic because it is about physics.  

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