Final answer:
The streaks from the edge gradient effect are oriented perpendicular to the direction of the sharp density difference interface, often visualized in patterns such as diffraction and interference.
Step-by-step explanation:
The streaks from the edge gradient effect are oriented perpendicular to the direction of the sharp density difference interface. This is because the electrical field between conductors, when ignoring edge effects, is described as directed radially outward from the common axis of the cylinders. The observed streaks or lines in patterns such as diffraction or interference are related to how waves, like light, interact with structures, and in the case of a diffraction grating, they are perpendicular to the direction along which the grating's slits run. This perpendicular orientation results in the separation and distinct pattern of lines or fringes in interference and diffraction phenomena.