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Light bends when it passes at an angle into a medium of a different density. When light passes from a less dense medium into a denser medium, like from space into Earth's atmosphere or from air into water, it bends toward the normal, which is an imaginary line perpendicular to the boundary between the two media where the light passes through. Light passing from a denser medium to a less dense medium bends away from the normal.

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A stick appears bent and short when immersed obliquely in water why?

When light passes from water to air, it changes speed and bends (refracts) due to the change in the medium's density. This bending of light causes the stick to appear bent at the water's surface. The apparent shortening is due to the difference in how light travels through water compared to air, creating an optical illusion.


Does a pencil remain the same when it is dipped in a glass of water?

No, the pencil will appear larger and distorted when it is dipped in a glass of water due to refraction of light. The change in appearance is caused by the bending of light as it passes from air to water, making the pencil look bent or broken.


What wave property ca best explain the apparent bending of a pencil when it is dipped into a glass of water?

Refraction can best explain the apparent bending of a pencil when it is dipped into a glass of water. Refraction is the bending of light waves as they pass from one medium to another with a different density, such as air to water, causing objects to appear shifted or bent.


Why does the spoon in a glass appears bent or broken?

The spoon appears bent or broken in a glass due to refraction of light. When light travels from air into water, it changes speed and direction, causing the image of the spoon to appear distorted. This phenomenon is known as refraction.


What causes a stick to bend when immersed in water?

When a stick is immersed in water, it bends due to the difference in density between the stick and the water. The water exerts an upward buoyant force on the stick, causing it to displace water and experience a net force upwards. This force bends the stick until equilibrium is reached.

Related Questions

A stick appears bent and short when immersed obliquely in water why?

When light passes from water to air, it changes speed and bends (refracts) due to the change in the medium's density. This bending of light causes the stick to appear bent at the water's surface. The apparent shortening is due to the difference in how light travels through water compared to air, creating an optical illusion.


A stick partly dipped in water appers broken due to?

the phenomenon of refraction. When light travels from one medium (such as air) to another medium with a different optical density (such as water), it changes speed and direction, causing the light rays to bend. This bending of light can make the stick appear broken or bent at the water's surface.


Does a pencil remain the same when it is dipped in a glass of water?

No, the pencil will appear larger and distorted when it is dipped in a glass of water due to refraction of light. The change in appearance is caused by the bending of light as it passes from air to water, making the pencil look bent or broken.


What is the relation of light distance and lenses?

Light travels in a straight line, as long as it is propagating through a constant medium. In space, space is pretty much empty, so the light travels in a straight line. When light passes into a different medium, such as from space into air or from air into glass, the light is bent or "refracted". You can see this for yourself; poke a straight stick into a pond or pool of water. Look at the stick. The light reflected from the stick to your eye allows you to see the stick, but the light from the part of the stick that's in the water is bent - so it appears as if the stick itself is bent. The light from the stick through the water is refracted differently than the light from the stick through the air. The greater the density of the material, the more the light will be refracted. To magnify light, we need to gather in a lot of light and bend it into a smaller area. We can use curved glass surfaces (or curved mirrors) to bend the light into a smaller area, which magnifies the light. The more dense the glass is, the more the light will be bent into a smaller area.


What wave property ca best explain the apparent bending of a pencil when it is dipped into a glass of water?

Refraction can best explain the apparent bending of a pencil when it is dipped into a glass of water. Refraction is the bending of light waves as they pass from one medium to another with a different density, such as air to water, causing objects to appear shifted or bent.


How do you straighten a bent attic stick?

To straighten a bent attic stick, you can apply heat using a heat gun or by soaking the stick in hot water to soften the wood fibers. Then, gently bend the stick back into its original shape, holding it in place until it cools and retains its new shape. Be careful not to apply too much heat to avoid damaging the stick.


Why does the spoon in a glass appears bent or broken?

The spoon appears bent or broken in a glass due to refraction of light. When light travels from air into water, it changes speed and direction, causing the image of the spoon to appear distorted. This phenomenon is known as refraction.


What causes a stick to bend when immersed in water?

When a stick is immersed in water, it bends due to the difference in density between the stick and the water. The water exerts an upward buoyant force on the stick, causing it to displace water and experience a net force upwards. This force bends the stick until equilibrium is reached.


The pebbles lying at the bottom of the clear water of the river appears to be raised up above their actual positionwhy?

Because when light enters a denser medium it is refracted towards normal. The same effect is seen when a straight stick is placed at an angle half into water. The stick appears bent at the point it enters the water. This phenomenon is called 'real and apparent depth', if you are interested.


Why does a spoon appear bent when immersed in a half filled glass of water?

A pencil in water looks bent because of refraction. when light enters a substance with a different density than the one it came out of, the light either slows down or speeds up. this makes the light appear bent. If there is a pencil in the water, it appears bent because the light is traveling at different speeds through water and air.


Why does a straw appear bent under water?

When light passes from one medium to another (in this case, air to water), it changes speed and direction due to the difference in optical density. This phenomenon, known as refraction, causes the light rays to bend at the air-water interface. As a result, the straw appears bent when viewed from outside the water.


What could stop the stick in a stick-shift to stop moving?

Bent shift tube or shift fork.