Question
Explain why does a tank appear shallower?
or
An object placed at the bottom of beaker appears to be raised. Why?
Solution
A tank filled with water appears shallower because, apparent depth is smaller than real depth. The phenomenon occuring is refraction of light and an object placed at the bottom of the tank apparently appears to be raised.
Th figure above shows a point object placed at the bottom of a beaker filled with water. The rays OA and OB emanating from O are refracted along AD and BC, respectively. These rays appear to diverge from point I. Thus, I is the virtual image of O. Clearly, the apparent depth AI is smaller than the real depth AO.
This is the reason why water tank appears shallower or an object placed at the bottom appears to be raised.
Refractive index of denser medium is given by,
Th figure above shows a point object placed at the bottom of a beaker filled with water. The rays OA and OB emanating from O are refracted along AD and BC, respectively. These rays appear to diverge from point I. Thus, I is the virtual image of O. Clearly, the apparent depth AI is smaller than the real depth AO.
This is the reason why water tank appears shallower or an object placed at the bottom appears to be raised.
Refractive index of denser medium is given by,
