Question

You stand near the edge of a swimming pooland observe through the water an object lying on the bottom of thepool. Which of the following statements correctly describes whatyou see?

a. The apparent depth of the object is less than thereal depth.
b. The apparent depth of the object is greater thanthe real depth.
c. There is no difference between the apparent depth and the actual depth of the object.

Answer 1

a

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer would be that the apparent depth of the object is less than the real depth.

The refractive property of light as it passes from air to water would make the depth of the pool appear less shallow than the actual depth to an observed. Hence, an object placed at the bottom of the pool will have an apparent depth that is shallower than its actual depth.

Due to the difference in the density of air and that of water, as the ray of light from an observer standing at the edge of a swimming pool travels from air into the water, it becomes refracted by bending away from the original traveling angle.

The same refraction occurs when light rays from an object inside the pool travel from water into the air. Hence, due to the refraction of the ray of light coming from the object at the bottom of the pool, the depth appears shallower than the actual depth.

Correct option: a