COMEDK2015PhysicsRay Optics
All lights are switched off, except for a bright point-light source kept at the bottom of a swimming pool filled with clear water of refractive index 4 / 3 . As a result, only a circular patch of 6 ~m diameter of the water surface is visible to spectators standing around the swimming pool. Which of the following gives the nearest value of the depth of the pool?
Options
- A1.6 ~m
- B2.0 ~m
- C2.6 ~m
- D3.0 ~m
Correct answer
C. 2.6 ~m
Step-by-step solution
For the given situation, the ray diagram is shown below. Refractive index of water, _ w = 4 3 r= D 2 = 6 2 =3 ~m The given situation is possible only for the case of total internal reflection. If i_ C be the critical angle, then i_ C = 1 _ w i_ C = 1 4 / 3 i_ C = 3 4 r r²+h² = 3 4 [ i_ C = r r²+h² ] 3 3²+h² = 3 4 9+h²=16 h²=7, h= 7 =2.6 ~m