Question

Why does a pencil partly immersed in water appears to be bent inside the water?

• A. Glass tumbler creates an illusion and pencil appears displaced.
• B. Light does not travel with same speed in all media.
• C. Pencil and water react and the light direction changes.
• D. Light is absorbed by the pencil.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Light does not travel with same speed in all media.

Light rays while entering a media change their direction depending upon the optical density of the medium. As water is a optically denser medium with respect to air, light rays from the pencil bends away from the normal. When this bent light reaches the eye, the pencil appears to be displaced or distorted.