Monday: Science
What phenomenon explains why a straw looks bent when placed in water?
Hint: This phenomenon occurs because light changes speed and direction when moving between materials like air and water.
Refraction is the phenomenon that explains why a straw appears bent when placed in water.
It occurs because light changes speed and direction as it passes from one medium to another with a different density, such as air to water. The change in speed causes the light rays to bend at the boundary between the two substances, creating the illusion that the straw is displaced or bent at the water’s surface. This optical effect is a common example of how light behaves when transitioning between transparent materials.
What about the other answers?
Reflection: A process where light bounces off surfaces, which might be confused with refraction when observing changes in light.
Dispersion: The separation of light into different colors, which is related to light behavior but not directly to the bending of objects in water.
Diffraction: The bending of light around obstacles, which could be confused with refraction, especially in a watery environment.
