Why does a pencil appear bent when placed in water?

A pencil appears bent in water due to the **refraction of light**. When light rays travel from water (a denser medium) into air (a rarer medium), they bend **away from the normal** as they change speed. To our eyes, this makes the submerged part of the pencil look shifted from its real position. * **Key Concept for Exam:** Refraction of light (bending of light as it moves between two different optical media).