An object is embedded in a block of ice, 10 cm below the plane surface. if the refractive index of the ice is 1.50, the apparent depth below the surface is

An object is embedded in a block of ice, 10 cm below the plane surface. if the refractive index of the ice is 1.50, the apparent depth below the surface is

Answer Details

When light travels from one medium to another medium of different optical density, its path gets bent at the interface between the two media. This phenomenon is called refraction. The bending occurs because the speed of light is different in each medium. The speed of light is slower in a denser medium than in a less dense one. When an object is placed in a denser medium like ice, the apparent depth of the object appears to be higher than its actual depth. The amount of apparent depth increase depends on the refractive index of the medium. The formula for the apparent depth is given by: Apparent depth = Actual depth / Refractive index Here, the actual depth is given as 10 cm, and the refractive index of ice is 1.50. By substituting these values in the formula, we get: Apparent depth = 10 / 1.50 = 6.67 cm Therefore, the answer is 6.67 cm.