Physics
A fish is looking at a 1.0 m high plant at the edge of a pond. Will the plant appear to the fish shorter or taller than its actual height? Draw a ray diagram to support your answer.
Answer
When a fish is looking at a 1.0 m high plant at the edge of the pond, it appears to be taller than its actual height due to the refraction of the light rays travelling from one medium to another.
When the fish is looking at the plant, as air is a rarer medium in comparison to water, the ray OP will bend away from the normal while emerging out from the water to air.
But, when we extend the ray it appears to be coming from a higher point.
Hence, the plant will look taller than its actual height.
Related Questions
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(b) Draw a labelled ray diagram to explain your answer.
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