Here's how it works:
* Light travels at different speeds in different mediums. For example, light travels faster in air than it does in water.
* When light enters a new medium, it changes direction. This change in direction is called refraction.
What refraction does to an object:
* Makes it appear in a different position: This is why a straw in a glass of water appears to be bent at the surface. The light from the straw is refracted as it passes from water to air, making it seem like the straw is in a different place than it actually is.
* Makes it appear distorted: The same effect that bends a straw can also make an object appear distorted, like the bottom of a swimming pool appearing shallower than it actually is.
* Focuses light: Lenses use refraction to focus light, which is how cameras, telescopes, and eyeglasses work.
In summary, refraction itself doesn't change the object, but it alters how we perceive the object by changing the path of light that reaches our eyes.
