Which term refers to spreading light apart?

The term that refers to spreading light apart is known as diverging. When light rays diverge, they move away from each other after passing through or reflecting off a surface. This occurs with certain types of lenses, such as concave lenses, which cause parallel incoming light rays to spread out, making them appear to come from a common point.

In the context of optics, diverging light is essential in applications like creating virtual images or helping with the correction of vision through certain types of glasses. This understanding of how light behaves when it diverges is crucial in the study of wave properties and the interaction of light with various materials.