Final answer:
When light passes from air into water, it undergoes refraction, which causes the light to change direction. This bending of light is responsible for the shift in the position of objects when viewed through water.
Step-by-step explanation:
When light passes from air into water, it undergoes a phenomenon called refraction. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with different optical densities. Instead of traveling in a straight line, light waves change direction because they travel at a different speed in water compared to air.
When light passes from air into water, it bends towards the normal line, which is a line perpendicular to the surface of the water. This bending results in the light ray changing direction and entering the water at an angle different from the incident angle.
For example, if a light ray enters the water at an angle of 45 degrees to the normal line, it will bend towards the normal and enter the water at a smaller angle. This phenomenon is responsible for the apparent shift in the position of objects when viewed through water.
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