REFRACTED LIGHT

Light travels at different speeds through different materials, such as air, water, and glass. It travels more slowly through water and glass than it does through air. When light slows down or speeds up, it bends in a new direction. This bending of light is called refraction.

Try these experiments

Materials: water, 3 glasses (or clear plastic cups), 3 pencils or straws

1. Fill each glass with a different amount of water.
2. Place a pencil or straw in each glass of water and look at it.

What do you observe?

Did the pencils really bend?

Does the pencil or straw look larger or smaller below the water? Why?


Materials: water, glass (or clear plastic cup), coin, book

1. Put a coin into an empty glass.
2. Place a book in front of the glass to hide the coin.
   
3. Pour some water slowly into the glass.

What happens to the coin? 

Take away the book. What do you see?