ok help i'm stuck on my science!
why does a image break up when a pebble drops into a puddle???
2007-01-21 02:42:10 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
When water is calm, with no waves on the surface, light hitting the surface is reflected straight out. When there are waves on the surface, the light is reflected in many directions, so parts of the reflected image are sent away from your eyes and you don't see those parts-only the parts reflected towards you.
2007-01-21 02:51:50 · answer #1 · answered by Rob H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like a mirror must be smooth the surface of a puddle must be smooth for it to act like a mirror. When a pebble is dropped in a puddle the waves created start out very symmetrical as circles centered around where the pebble went through the surface of the puddle. when the waves reach the edge of the puddle they reflect and since the edge of the puddle is usually not very smooth the reflection of the wave is not very symmetrical and the waves then make a random pattern of the surface of the puddle. The image that originally looked like one would see in a mirror becomes less and less able to be interpreted by our mind.
2007-01-21 10:53:52 · answer #2 · answered by anonimous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the water waves cause the water surface to not be a perfect plane anymore. So the reflections are scattered.
2007-01-21 10:46:47 · answer #3 · answered by rscanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋