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The pencil doesn't bend. The light, when it passes into or out of water, changes direction slightly. also it's refracted it looks bigger and bent but light changes the direction that's way it looks bent and bigger also our eyes see it differently.

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12y ago
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1mo ago

When a pencil is placed in a cup of water, light bends as it passes from the air into the water and then back out again. This bending of light creates an illusion that the pencil itself is bent.

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Q: Why does a pencil bend in a cup of water?
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What makes a pencil bend when put in water?

When a pencil is put in water, the water molecules are attracted to the pencil's surface due to adhesion. This attraction causes the water molecules to bond with the pencil molecules, changing the pencil's structure and making it appear bent when viewed through the water.


Why does the pencil in a glass of water appear bent?

When light passes from one medium to another of different optical density, it changes speed, causing the light rays to bend. This bending is known as refraction. When you see the pencil in a glass of water, the light rays coming from the pencil bend as they move from the water into the air, creating the illusion that the pencil is bent at the water's surface.


Why when a pencil is in water it looks like if it's broken?

When a pencil is placed in water, light passing from air to water through the water's surface is refracted due to the change in speed. This refraction causes the light rays from the pencil to bend at different angles, making the pencil appear broken at the water's surface.


What process is pencils bend in the water?

When a pencil is placed in water, the light rays passing from air to water bend due to the change in medium. This bending of light rays causes the pencil to appear bent when viewed through the water-air interface. This is a phenomenon known as refraction.


What happen to the pencil inside the glass of water?

When a pencil is placed in a glass of water, it appears to bend or break at the water's surface due to refraction of light. This is because light changes speed when it moves from air to water, causing the illusion of the pencil bending or breaking.

Related questions

What makes a pencil bend when put in water?

When a pencil is put in water, the water molecules are attracted to the pencil's surface due to adhesion. This attraction causes the water molecules to bond with the pencil molecules, changing the pencil's structure and making it appear bent when viewed through the water.


Why does the pencil in a glass of water appear bent?

When light passes from one medium to another of different optical density, it changes speed, causing the light rays to bend. This bending is known as refraction. When you see the pencil in a glass of water, the light rays coming from the pencil bend as they move from the water into the air, creating the illusion that the pencil is bent at the water's surface.


Why when a pencil is in water it looks like if it's broken?

When a pencil is placed in water, light passing from air to water through the water's surface is refracted due to the change in speed. This refraction causes the light rays from the pencil to bend at different angles, making the pencil appear broken at the water's surface.


What process is pencils bend in the water?

When a pencil is placed in water, the light rays passing from air to water bend due to the change in medium. This bending of light rays causes the pencil to appear bent when viewed through the water-air interface. This is a phenomenon known as refraction.


What happen to the pencil inside the glass of water?

When a pencil is placed in a glass of water, it appears to bend or break at the water's surface due to refraction of light. This is because light changes speed when it moves from air to water, causing the illusion of the pencil bending or breaking.


How do you make music out of water?

Pouring water into a cup and striking it with a pencil can form music. The sounds that are heard depend on the water level in the cup.


What is the explanation of bend pencil?

The bending of a pencil in water is due to the refraction of light. When light travels from air to water, it changes speed and direction, causing the pencil to appear bent at the water-air interface. This phenomenon is an example of how light can be influenced by the medium through which it travels.


What optical illusion is created by putting a pencil into a clear cup of water?

it bends the light, making the pencil seem a different length


When you put a pencil in the water what does it look like?

When a pencil is placed in water, it appears to bend or break at the surface of the water due to refraction. This effect is caused by light rays bending as they pass from the water to the air, creating an optical illusion.


How does a flexible pencil work?

A flexible pencil is made of a rubber-like material that allows it to bend without breaking. The pencil lead inside is typically surrounded by a rubbery substance that provides the flexibility. When pressure is applied, the pencil can bend easily.


What kind of pencil cup is best?

A tall porcelain stein makes a great pencil cup.


What happens if you try to bend a pencil?

It breaks... :-P