Question

When an observer peers over the edge of a deep,empy metal bowl on a kitchen
table, he does not see the entire bottom surface. There fore, a small object lying
on the bottom is hidden from view, but the object can be seen when the bowl is
filled with liquied A. When the bowl is filled with liqued B, however, the object
remains hidden from view, then
a) liquid A has the greater index of refraction
b) liquid B has the greater index of refraction
c) both liquid have same index of refraction
d) Any of these
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Answer 1

Answer:

When an observer peers over the edge of a deep, empty, metal bowl on a kitchen table, he does not see the entire bottom surface. Therefore, a small object lying on the bottom is hidden from view, but the object can be seen when the bowl is filled with liquid A.

Answer 2

When the bowl is filled with liquid B, however, the object  remains hidden from view, then a) liquid A has the greater index of refraction.

• An object is visible when the rays coming from the object reach our eyes.
• When light rays travel from one medium to another, it deviates away or towards the normal depending on the refractive indices of the two mediums.
• Since the object can be viewed when the bowl is filled with liquid A and with liquid B, the rays do not deviate much from the normal when they emerge from liquid B.
• Since the rays refract more in the first case, the refractive index of liquid A must be greater than that in B.