Question

The pencil immersed partly in water appears to be bent due to

Answer 1

Step 1: Bending of light

1. When light moves from one medium to another, such as from air to water, the speed of light changes as it enters the new medium.
2. In the air, light travels faster; however, as it travels through water, it slows down. The reason for light bending is because of this. This light-bending occurs at the intersection of two mediums. This bending of light is known as refraction.

Step 2: Pencil immersed partly in water

1. Consider a pencil $AB$ with the $CB$ portion immersed in water, as indicated in the diagram.
2. As they go from water to air, light rays from the pencil's tip $\left(B\right)$ bend away from the normal. Point $B\text{'}$ appears to be the source of the refracted photons.
3. As a result, the water-immersed portion of the pencil shows as $CB\text{'}$. As a result, the pencil seems bent at the water's edge.
4. Furthermore, the pencil's immersed portion in the water looks to be shorter than the pencil's true length.

Hence, the pencil immersed partly in water appears to be bent due to the bending of light from its original path when it travels from one medium to another.