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Light rays from the Sun make a 30° angle to the vertical when seen from below the surface of a body of water. At what angle above the horizon is the Sun?

User Starwed
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The Sun is at an angle of 60° above the horizon.

Step-by-step explanation:

When light rays from the Sun enter water, they change direction due to refraction. In this case, the light rays make a 30° angle to the vertical when seen from below the surface of the water. To determine the angle above the horizon at which the Sun is, we need to consider the angle of incidence, which is the angle between the incoming light rays and the normal to the surface of the water. In this case, the angle of incidence is equal to 90° - 30° = 60° above the horizon.

User Douglas Royds
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