Final answer:
In physics, refraction causes the depressions in the road to be harder to see when it rains. Light rays passing through raindrops bend and scatter, leading to a distorted view of the road surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, when it rains, it becomes harder to see the depressions in the road due to a phenomenon known as refraction. Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium (such as air) to another medium (such as water) and changes direction. In the case of rain, as light travels from the air to the raindrops and then to our eyes, it bends or refracts.
These bends in the path of the light rays make objects appear shifted or distorted, which can make it harder to see the depressions in the road. The amount of refraction depends on the angle at which the light enters the raindrop and the density of the droplet.
This phenomenon is similar to looking at an object through a glass of water, where the object appears displaced due to the refraction of light. Similarly, when it rains, the light rays passing through raindrops bend and scatter, leading to a distorted view of the road surface.