While this spoon appears to have a broken handle, it is just the result of how the water affects the light. This is an example of:
-
Refraction
Yes! Refraction bends light as it moves from one substance to another. As the light passes from the water to the air, its path is changed, making it appear that the spoon is broken. -
Reflection
No. While some light is reflected from the glass, it is not responsible for the bending of the light. -
Absorption
No. The water and glass are both clear, telling us that very little of the light is being absorbed. Absorption does not bend the light. -
Diffusion
No. Diffusion is the scattering of light as it is reflected in many different directions. Diffusion would make the image cloudy and blurry.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.3.P.10.3 Demonstrate that light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object or travels from one medium to another.
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video, free, Updated |
Mirage | video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated |
Pinhole Eyeglasses | video, checked |
Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video, checked |
Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | video, free, learnalong, checked |
Changing the Speed of Light | video |
Why is Foam White? | video, checked |
Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, free, learnalong, Updated |
Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video, free, Updated |
A Long Lens | text page |
Review Light-1 | practice |
Review Light-2 | practice |
Review Light-3 | practice |
Review Light-4 | practice |
Review Light-5 | practice |
SC.3.P.10.4 Demonstrate that light can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed.
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video, free, Updated |
Mirage | video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated |
Pinhole Eyeglasses | video, checked |
Looking for Rainbows | video |
Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video, checked |
Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | video, free, learnalong, checked |
Changing the Speed of Light | video |
Why is Foam White? | video, checked |
Onion Crystals | video |
Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, free, learnalong, Updated |
Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video, free, Updated |
A Long Lens | text page |
Sunlight, Energy, and Crayons | text page, free |
Review Light-1 | practice |
Review Light-2 | practice |
Review Light-3 | practice |
Review Light-4 | practice |
Review Light-5 | practice |
SC.7.P.10.2 Observe and explain that light can be reflected, refracted, and/or absorbed.
Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video, free, Updated |
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video, free, Updated |
Mirage | video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated |
Pinhole Eyeglasses | video, checked |
Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video, checked |
Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | video, free, learnalong, checked |
Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Changing the Speed of Light | video |
Why is Foam White? | video, checked |
Onion Crystals | video |
Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, free, learnalong, Updated |
A Long Lens | text page |
Sunlight, Energy, and Crayons | text page, free |
Review Light-1 | practice |
Review Light-2 | practice |
Review Light-3 | practice |
Review Light-4 | practice |
Review Light-5 | practice |
Utah
UT.8.IV.1.b Compare the transfer of energy (i.e., sound, light, earthquake waves, heat) through various mediums.
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video, free, Updated |
Noisy String | video, checked |
Mirage | video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated |
About Microwaves | video, checked |
Microwave Chocolate | video, checked |
Spoon Bells | video, checked |
The Singing Glass | video, checked |
Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video, checked |
The Science of Pizza | video, checked |
Heating a Balloon | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Changing the Speed of Light | video |
Doppler Effect | video, checked |
Solar Power | video, checked |
Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video, free, Updated |
Comparing How Sound Moves Through Liquids and Gases | text page |
Review Light-1 | practice |
Review Light-2 | practice |
Review Light-4 | practice |
Review Light-5 | practice |
NGSS
1-PS4-3 Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video, free, Updated |
Mirage | video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated |
A Color You Can't See | video, free, checked |
Pinhole Eyeglasses | video, checked |
Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video, checked |
Growing Crystals Under the Microscope | video, free, learnalong, checked |
Sunprints | video |
Changing the Speed of Light | video |
Why is Foam White? | video, checked |
Onion Crystals | video |
Microscopes: Growing Crystals | video, free, learnalong, Updated |
Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video, free, Updated |
A Long Lens | text page |
Review Light-1 | practice |
Review Light-2 | practice |
Review Light-3 | practice |
Review Light-4 | practice |
Review Light-5 | practice |
MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
Sunglass Science: Polarized Light | video, free, Updated |
Mirage | video, free, ClosedCaptions, Updated |
About Microwaves | video, checked |
Microwave Chocolate | video, checked |
Why Wet Things Turn Dark | video, checked |
Onion Crystals | video |
Sunprints | video |
Finding Fat in Foods | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Changing the Speed of Light | video |
Why is Foam White? | video, checked |
Sunglass Science: Birefringence | video, free, Updated |
A Long Lens | text page |
Sunlight, Energy, and Crayons | text page, free |
Review Light-1 | practice |
Review Light-2 | practice |
Review Light-4 | practice |
Review Light-5 | practice |