6/9/2010





My experiment today was to get a pencil, water and A clear glass or jar.
I had to fill the glass half way with water then I placed the pencil in the glass. When I looked at the pencil at the top of the glass the pencil appeared bent as seen on photo 1.

Then when I looked at the pencil from the side of the glass it had a different effect. I could see two pencil's as you also can see on photo 2.
What happens when you look at a pencil through the side of the glass? Light play's tricks on your eyes. The pencil looks bent. This is because light travels slower through water than through air. As the light enters the glass of water it slows down (changes direction) and as it leaves the glass it speeds up again- therefore making the pencil look as though it is bent! Pretty cool eh!!