Question

The Sun appears at an angle of 48.4° above the horizontal as viewed by a dolphin swimming underwater. What angle does the sunlight striking the water actually make with the horizon? (Assume nwater = 1.333. Enter an answer between 0° and 90°.)

Answer 1

Answer:

4.57 degree

Explanation:

As the dolphin is under water, so the angle is angle of refraction which is equal to 48.4 degree.

refractive index of water, n = 1.333

Let the angle of incidence which is the angle between the incident ray and the normal is i.

By use of Snell's law

$n = \frac{Sin i}{Sin r}$

$1.333 = \frac{Sin i}{Sin 48.4}$

$Sin i = 1.333\times Sin 48.4 = 0.9968$

i = 85.43 degree

Angle made with the horizon = 90 - 85.43 = 4.57 degree