A student standing on the edge of a swimming pool sees a painted mark on the bottom of the pool. The mark appears to be at a shallower depth than the actual depth of the pool.Which of the following descriptions of light waves best explains this observation?
A)Light from the mark travels through the water in a curved path.
B)Light from the mark is refracted as it travels from the water to the air.
C)Light from the mark is reflected as it travels from the water to the air.
D)Light from the mark bounces off the boundary between the water and the air.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Light from the mark is refracted as it travels from the water to the air, causing the mark to appear at a shallower depth than it actually is. This is due to the change in speed of light as it moves from one medium (water) to another (air), bending the light rays.

A Student Standing on the Edge of a Swimming Pool