I was watching the filter blowing the water around in the pool today and I got to wondering... Why does something clear, cast a shadow when it moves?
2006-10-06 19:24:31 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Yeah I get all that but why is it a shadow and not a rainbow or colored in the least? It is a regular black shadow...
2006-10-06 19:37:12 · update #1
Though it is indeed transparent, light can't pass water as easily as it did on air. The water absorbs some light, so it is slightly dimmer than light through air. And did you notice the shadow of the water is lighter than the shadow of the container?
2006-10-06 19:29:16 · answer #1 · answered by DWReyes 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Water itself is a very transparent matter but as we must know the rule that "NOTHING IS 100% TRANSPARENT" and as the water has some reflective index it can produce shadows. if you read the physics of Water you will have that water has little reflective index that is an indication that the water, just like other forms of matters, can reflect and Produce shadows.
2006-10-07 06:04:44 · answer #2 · answered by Ayaz Ali 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First respondant is correct about refractions. The ripples on the surface of water acts like a convex and concave lens, that focus and divert the lights. That generates the effects of brighter and darker patterns. And the darker patterns is what you consider as a shadow.
2006-10-07 02:31:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The wave refracts the light and therefore creates a shadow because the light isn't shining straight through the water.
2006-10-07 02:27:18 · answer #4 · answered by sshazzam 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is a good question. I wish my father was around he seemed to know everything. maybe because when the water ripples.the distance between the ripples is short between them.causeing in that area. refraction of the light back to itself.back and forth. makeing it seem to be a shadow.?I dont know. just a quess.
2006-10-07 02:32:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
light is bent in water just like a prism and holds the light in densities of being bent the light source is fixed and the water is moving, the shadow are to each the differences
2006-10-07 02:30:51 · answer #6 · answered by bev 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the suface of the water acts as a lens due to disturbances in the surface-layer.
angle of incidence = angle of refraction times the cosine of the refractive index ...
the 'lensing' effect of surface irregualrities yields an image on the bottom of the pool of darker and lighter areas ...
ps water is NOT entirely "clear" ...ever notice that when you dive down deeeeeep, that it gets darker?
2006-10-07 02:30:16 · answer #7 · answered by atheistforthebirthofjesus 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
although most light can pass through water, less light gets through than through air... consequently you see a shadow. think about how you can't see very far underwater compared to on land.
2006-10-07 03:55:41 · answer #8 · answered by Brooks B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It makes shadows because it hasn't learned how to make bunny ears yet.
2006-10-07 04:47:55 · answer #9 · answered by backinbowl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know the answer to that question, but i did want to thank you for answering mine... i had to ask another question to find out how to thank you.... I dont know if we are weirdo's but we are definitely similar.
2006-10-07 02:40:53 · answer #10 · answered by riche6476 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋