Light Refraction Diagram: Why a Stick Looks Bent in Water #233187 (License: Personal Use)

This vintage line drawing depicts the principle of refraction using a stick (AB) partially immersed in water. Light ray E travels from air into water at point C, bending toward the normal (dashed line), causing the underwater portion (BD) to appear shifted to D, creating the illusion of a bent stick. Key points A (top in air), B (bottom in water), C (interface), D (apparent position), and E (incident ray) clarify the path of light and visual perception.

Used in physics education, optics textbooks, and science museum exhibits to explain Snell’s Law and everyday phenomena like distorted underwater objects; matches user intent for learning or teaching basic wave optics.