Why do radio and TV waves have less diffraction?

Radio and TV waves experience less diffraction because they have a small wavelength. Diffraction refers to the bending of waves around obstacles or the spreading of waves when they pass through small openings. The amount of diffraction that occurs is inversely related to the wavelength of the waves compared to the size of the obstacles or openings they encounter.

When the wavelength is small relative to the size of an obstacle or opening, the waves will tend to travel in straight lines with less curvature around objects. In the case of radio and TV waves, although they generally have longer wavelengths than visible light, they still exhibit less diffraction when compared to much shorter wavelengths, such as those of X-rays or gamma rays. Therefore, when radio and TV waves encounter buildings or hills, they are less likely to bend sharply and more likely to create shadow zones.

The implications of wave characteristics, such as amplitude and frequency, are related to wave energy and perception but do not directly influence the diffraction behavior in the same manner as wavelength does. Thus, the fundamental property that dictates the diffraction of these waves is their wavelength, making the statement about small wavelength accurate in this context.