Question

If you put a pencil in a cup of water, it looks as if it is bent and larger in the water. This is because waves

A) can reflect off the surface.
B) are absorbed instead of reflected.
C) bend around a barrier, like light does.
D) change direction when they change mediums.
and why? I think it is either c or d

Answer 1

d - change direction when they change mediums - refraction

Answer 2

The correct option is (D) change direction when they change mediums.

Step-by-step explanation:

When light enters from one medium to another medium it changes its original path and deflects itself. This changing of path is known as the refraction of light and this is the reason we see when we put a pencil in a cup of water, it looks as if it is bent and larger in the water.