Disappearing Glass – How Use the Index of Refraction to Create an Optical Miracle

Have you ever wanted to be a magician? Or do you want to impress your friends? All you need is a few Pyrex beakers, water, Wesson vegetable oil and Pyrex stir rods. The Wesson oil has the same index of refraction as a special kind of glass that has gone through a tremendous amount of heat called Pyrex. When you place the stir stick in the oil, it looks like the stick disappears in the oil. The secret behind this cool science experiment is the index of refraction.