Why does a spoon look bent in water? Refraction example for kids

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 💡 Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one transparent substance to another (like from air to water).
• 🌊 Light travels at different speeds in different substances. It slows down in water compared to air.
• 📏 This change in speed causes the light to bend, making objects appear distorted or bent.
• 🥄 A spoon in water looks bent because the light reflecting off the spoon bends as it moves from the water to your eyes.
• 👁️‍🗨️ The amount of bending depends on the angle at which the light hits the surface.
• 🌈 Refraction is also responsible for other cool phenomena like rainbows and mirages!

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. What is refraction?
   1. A) The reflection of light off a surface.
   2. B) The bending of light as it passes from one substance to another.
   3. C) The absorption of light by a substance.
   4. D) The creation of light by a substance.
2. Why does light bend when it moves from air to water?
   1. A) Because the water is colder than the air.
   2. B) Because light travels at the same speed in both air and water.
   3. C) Because light travels faster in water than in air.
   4. D) Because light travels slower in water than in air.
3. What everyday object can demonstrate refraction easily?
   1. A) A rock.
   2. B) A spoon in a glass of water.
   3. C) A piece of paper.
   4. D) A rubber band.
4. Besides a bent spoon, what else is caused by refraction?
   1. A) Shadows.
   2. B) Eclipses.
   3. C) Rainbows.
   4. D) Thunder.
5. What happens to the speed of light when it enters water?
   1. A) It speeds up.
   2. B) It stays the same.
   3. C) It slows down.
   4. D) It disappears.
6. If light didn't bend, what would happen to the spoon in water?
   1. A) It would look bigger.
   2. B) It would look smaller.
   3. C) It would look normal.
   4. D) It would disappear.
7. At what angle is refraction most noticeable?
   1. A) When light hits the surface straight on.
   2. B) When light hits the surface at a sharp angle.
   3. C) When there is no light.
   4. D) Refraction is always the same, no matter the angle.