The image of an object beneath the surface of a medium of refractive index n 1 is seen in air by a person looking down on the surface. This image, formed by light rays leaving the flat refractive surface, is
A) real and closer to the viewer than the object.
B) virtual and closer to the viewer than the object.
C) real and farther from the viewer than the object.
D) virtual and farther from the viewer than the object.
E) virtual and the same distance from the viewer as the object.

Question

The image of an object beneath the surface of a medium of refractive index n > 1 is seen in air by a person looking down on the surface. This image, formed by light rays leaving the flat refractive surface, is
A) real and closer to the viewer than the object.
B) virtual and closer to the viewer than the object.
C) real and farther from the viewer than the object.
D) virtual and farther from the viewer than the object.
E) virtual and the same distance from the viewer as the object.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When light passes from a denser to a rarer medium, the light refracts away from the normal. In this case, light travels from a medium with refractive index n (denser) to air (rarer). Therefore, the image formed by the light rays leaving the surface of the medium is virtual and closer to the viewer than the object.

The Image of an Object Beneath the Surface of a Medium