2006-10-23 01:51:15 · 13 answers · asked by mac 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
When photons of light encounter matter, they must take a longer path to get around all the electrons in the matter. This longer path makes light apear to slow down, the denser the matter, the more the slowing.
If the light is traveling exactly perpindicular to the interface between two kinds of matter, this "slowing" has no effect on the direction of the light. But if the light is travelling at an angle, the angle is changed at the interface.
Imagine an axle with equal sizes wheels at each end, each being turned by a motor of constant force. When the wheels roll from a wood floor to a carpet, the wheels are subjected to more friction, and the axle slows.
If the axle crosses into the carpet straight on, both wheels are slowed at the same time. But if the axle is at an angle, first only one of the wheels slows, so the direction of the axle changes.
If the carpet has two parallel sides, when it leaves the carpet, the wheel that hit the carpet first will hit the wood floor first, and speed back up, so crossing a parallel rug, the axle continues on the same path, but is offset to the side.
If the rug were pie shaped, one wheel would encounter less carpet overall than the other, and the path of the axle would be changed.
That is why a prism changes the direction of light.
A prism breaks light into colors because blue light has smaller "wheels" and the path is bent more than red light.
2006-10-23 02:16:53 · answer #1 · answered by disco legend zeke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Air and water are both substantially transparent meaning that light can pass through them with little or no change. Light of course consists of photons traveling "at the speed of light" however there is a slight difference in the speed of light (the photons) as they travel through a vacuum (fastest), air (slightly slower) water (significantly slower) and a glass lens (perhaps slower still). What slows the photons? Photons can be absorbed by the electrons orbiting atoms and molecules (there are none in a vacuum). When a material is transparent, the photons interact with the atoms and molecules with very little change except the trip is longer and the transit is slower. This deflects (refracts) the photons changing their direction. Because the direction of the photons differ between the water and air, the image of a stick partially immersed in water appears bent (just like the light beam!).
2006-10-23 02:28:18 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's as a results of refraction of sunshine. the reason below assumes you have a competent expertise of ways gentle is propagated. __________________________ In somewhat some media, gentle strikes at diverse speeds. whilst gentle strikes from one medium into yet another, its velocity changes. The substitute in velocity reasons a metamorphosis in direction. whilst the sunshine contemplated from the spoon travels by way of water and then air and into your eyes. whilst the rays of sunshine from the spoon flow the barrier between the water and the air, the cost changes, inflicting a bend interior the direction of the rays. The component of the spoon no longer interior the water studies a uniform velocity interior the medium (air) so its direction does no longer substitute. for this reason whilst your eyes see the spoon, it sees the rays from the component of the spoon immersed interior the water as "bent" jointly as the section no longer immersed in water is considered as "unbent". For greater info, do a seek for refractive index or refraction of sunshine.
2016-11-25 00:01:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is more dense than air and because of the difference in density the light is bent in a different way than through a gas.
2006-10-23 02:00:16 · answer #4 · answered by synchronicity915 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Refraction of light - stick appears to be bent at point where the stick seems to enter water.This optical effect is due to refraction.
2006-10-23 02:03:08 · answer #5 · answered by Blackjack 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The refractive nature of the water, as it seems to "bend" the light
2006-10-23 02:16:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is due to difference in the refractive index of air and water.air has lower refractive index while water has high refractive index so the image of stick appears to be towards the normal
2006-10-23 02:10:02 · answer #7 · answered by charmi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is due to Refraction. Rays of light when viewed from the glass of water tends to bend but its only that the rays are Refracted.
2006-10-23 01:56:54 · answer #8 · answered by Shukri 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
because water bends light, the wave lenght of the color of the stick is bent in respect to the original.
2006-10-23 01:54:29 · answer #9 · answered by mierdurez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Due to refraction of light from one air media to water media.
2006-10-23 02:01:15 · answer #10 · answered by gurna 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋