Suppose a fish is observed below the surface of a lake. The distance the fish appears below the surface when looking down from above into the water (n = 1.33) is
A) greater than the fish's actual distance.
B) equal to the fish's actual distance.
C) less than the fish's actual distance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When light passes from one medium to another, its speed and direction change, causing it to bend. This phenomenon is called refraction. The amount of bending depends on the angle at which the light strikes the surface of separation and the difference in densities between the two media. In this case, light travels from air (n = 1.00) to water (n = 1.33), so it bends towards the normal (perpendicular to the surface) and slows down. As a result, the fish appears to be higher and closer to the surface than it actually is. The amount of apparent displacement can be calculated using Snell's law, but it is not necessary to do so to answer the question.

Suppose a Fish Is Observed Below the Surface of a Lake