Which wave property is responsible for the phenomenon where a pencil placed in a water cup appears displaced?

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Understand the Problem

The question describes a common physics demonstration where a pencil in water appears bent or displaced. The question is asking to identify the wave property that explains this phenomenon. The options given are dispersion, constructive interference, refraction, and diffraction.

Answer

Refraction

The wave property responsible for the pencil appearing displaced in the water cup is refraction.

Answer for screen readers

The wave property responsible for the pencil appearing displaced in the water cup is refraction.

More Information

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium (air) to another (water). This bending causes the pencil to appear broken or displaced.

Tips

A common mistake is confusing refraction with reflection. Reflection is when light bounces off a surface, while refraction is when light bends as it passes through a surface.

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