Question

A diver shines light up to the surface of a smooth pond at a 10 degree angle to the normal. Some light passes into the air above, and the part that reflects back into the water makes an angle to the normal of __________. A) less than 10 degrees. B) 10 degrees. C) more than 10 degrees.

Answer 1

When light passes from one medium (water in this case) into another medium with a different refractive index (air), it follows the law of reflection and refraction.

The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence (the angle at which the light enters the second medium) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle at which the light reflects back into the first medium), both measured with respect to the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface).

In this scenario, the diver shines light into the pond at a 10-degree angle to the normal. When the light reaches the air-water interface, some of it reflects back into the water. According to the law of reflection, the angle of reflection will be equal to the angle of incidence.

So, the correct answer is:

B) 10 degrees.

The angle at which the light reflects back into the water is 10 degrees, the same as the angle of incidence.