Light strikes the surface of a swimming pool at an angle of 40° measured from the normal
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Light — Reflection and Refraction · Light — Reflection and Refraction
Problem
Light strikes the surface of a swimming pool at an angle of 40° measured from the normal. As the ray passes from the water (n≈1.33) into the air above (n≈1.00), which statement best describes the change in its direction?
(a) It bends toward the normal because light slows down as it enters the air, giving it a smaller refraction angle.
(b) It bends away from the normal to form an angle of about 59∘ with the normal (larger than the 40∘ incident angle).
(c) It continues in the air at the same 40∘ angle because the incident angle is below the critical angle.
(d) It undergoes total internal reflection and remains inside the water instead of entering the air.