Question

Ramya is an 8-year-old girl who has just begun to learn swimming. At the moment, she is in the swimming pool. Suddenly, Ramya finds that her earring has fallen into the water. It appears to her that the earring has not gone too deep. So, she begins to go further into the swimming pool to retrieve her earring. Her trainer, who has been watching her movements, does not allow Ramya to go further and pulls her out of the swimming pool quickly.

1. Why does it appear to Ramya that her earring has not gone too deep in water? Name the phenomenon involved.
2. Why does the trainer not allow Ramya to go further in the swimming pool?
3. Give one example of the effect of phenomenon involved in the above episode in which a glass slab is used.
4. What values does the trainer show in the above episode?

Answer 1

1. It appears less deep because light rays coming from the earring bend away from the normal as they pass from water to air, creating a raised virtual image. The phenomenon involved is the refraction of light.
2. The trainer knows that the water is actually much deeper than it appears, making it unsafe for an 8-year-old beginner swimmer to go further.
3. Printed letters on a page appear raised or lifted up when a thick glass slab is placed over them.
4. The trainer shows values of being responsible, caring, alert, and protective of their student’s safety.