Question

A fish inside the water 12cm below the surface looking up through the water sees the outside world contained in a circular horizon. If the refractive index of water is 4/3 the radius of circle is​

Answer 1

Answer:

13.6 cm

Explanation:

From Snell's law:

n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂

In the air, n₁ = 1, and light from the horizon forms a 90° angle with the vertical, so sin θ₁ = sin 90° = 1.

Given n₂ = 4/3:

1 = 4/3 sin θ

sin θ = 3/4

If x is the radius of the circle, then sin θ is:

sin θ = x / √(x² + 12²)

sin θ = x / √(x² + 144)

Substituting:

3/4 = x / √(x² + 144)

9/16 = x² / (x² + 144)

9/16 x² + 81 = x²

81 = 7/16 x²

x ≈ 13.6