Question

The depth of water in a bucket is 40 cm but its bottom appears to be raised by 10 cm. What is the refractive index of water?

Answer 1

Given:

Real depth of water (h) = 40 cm

Apparent shift/raised height (S) = 10 cm

Formula:

Apparent depth (h') = Real depth (h) − Apparent shift (S)

= 40 − 10

= 30 cm

Refractive index (μ) = `"Real depth (h)"/"Apparent depth (h')"`

= `40/30`

= `4/3`

= 1.33

The refractive index of water is 1.33.