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When an object is submerged in water (higher density medium) they seem shallower if you are looking at it from air (lower density medium). This is because the light rays slow down as they move from a medium of lower density (air) to a medium of higher density (water) and tend to refract (bend) towards the normal (surface of the water) hence the seem shallower (closer) than they actually are!

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Why do things appear larger or closer underwater?

Objects appear larger and closer underwater due to the way light bends as it passes from water to air, causing refraction. This distortion in the path of light makes objects underwater seem closer and bigger than they actually are when viewed from the surface.


Why do objects in the underwater Seem closer to the surface then they are?

This phenomenon, known as underwater refraction, occurs because light travels at different speeds through water and air. When light passes from water to air, it bends away from the normal (perpendicular line), causing objects to appear closer to the surface than they actually are.


Why do object that are underwater look closer than they actually are?

When light passes from water to air or vice versa, it bends due to the change in density between the two mediums. This bending of light, known as refraction, causes objects underwater to appear closer than they actually are when viewed from the surface. Our brain interprets the refracted light incorrectly, making objects seem closer than their actual position.


Why do objecs under water seem deeper or closer to the surface than they really are?

This phenomenon is due to light refraction. Light waves bend as they move from one medium to another of different density, such as from air to water. As a result, objects underwater may appear closer to the surface or deeper than they actually are when viewed from above water.


Why does the moon seem bigger when it is closer to the horizon?

The moon appears bigger when it is closer to the horizon due to an optical illusion called the moon illusion. This occurs because our brain compares the size of the moon to objects on the horizon, making it seem larger in comparison.

Related Questions

Why do things appear larger or closer underwater?

Objects appear larger and closer underwater due to the way light bends as it passes from water to air, causing refraction. This distortion in the path of light makes objects underwater seem closer and bigger than they actually are when viewed from the surface.


Why do objects in the underwater Seem closer to the surface then they are?

This phenomenon, known as underwater refraction, occurs because light travels at different speeds through water and air. When light passes from water to air, it bends away from the normal (perpendicular line), causing objects to appear closer to the surface than they actually are.


Why do object that are underwater look closer than they actually are?

When light passes from water to air or vice versa, it bends due to the change in density between the two mediums. This bending of light, known as refraction, causes objects underwater to appear closer than they actually are when viewed from the surface. Our brain interprets the refracted light incorrectly, making objects seem closer than their actual position.


Why do objecs under water seem deeper or closer to the surface than they really are?

This phenomenon is due to light refraction. Light waves bend as they move from one medium to another of different density, such as from air to water. As a result, objects underwater may appear closer to the surface or deeper than they actually are when viewed from above water.


Why do objects underwater seem to be bigger and nearer than in reality?

because of refraction


Why does the moon seem larger than other objects in the sky?

It is closer than most of those other objects.


When I look at things underwater they often seem more than when I look at them on the surface.?

When you look at objects underwater, the way light refracts and bends creates a unique visual experience, often enhancing colors and details. The density of water compared to air affects how we perceive depth and clarity, sometimes making objects appear larger or closer than they are. Additionally, the movement of water can add a dynamic quality to the view, intensifying the overall impression. This combination of optical effects can lead to a perception of things being more vivid or pronounced underwater.


According to linear perspective people and objects appear to get?

They appear to seem smaller the further away they are,and bigger the closer they get.


What is the advantage to having mirrors that say objects may appear closer than they seem?

On a mirrors that say "objects may appear closer than they seem" have a greater field of view then a conventional flat mirror. If you look at it very closly you will notice it is slightly convexed, much like a fisheye lens.


A device that makes objects in space seem brighter and closer than they are?

A magnifying lens or telescope could achieve this effect by collecting and focusing more light from distant objects, making them appear brighter and larger. However, there is no device that can truly make objects in space seem closer than they actually are, as distance in space is vast and cannot be physically altered.


Why does a fork bend underwater?

A fork appears to bend underwater due to a phenomenon called refraction. When light passes from air into water, it changes speed and direction, causing objects submerged in water to appear displaced or distorted. This optical illusion makes the fork seem bent at the water's surface, even though it remains straight in reality.


Why does the moon seem bigger when it is closer to the horizon?

The moon appears bigger when it is closer to the horizon due to an optical illusion called the moon illusion. This occurs because our brain compares the size of the moon to objects on the horizon, making it seem larger in comparison.