REAL AND APPARENT DEPTH
1. The diagram below shows a transparent water tank containing water
of refractive index 4/3. An electric light is fixed at corner A of the
tank. A light ray from the slit shines on the water surface BC at an
angle of 480as shownB C
480
Ray of Water
light
A
Lamp
i) Determine the angle of refraction for the ray shown in the
diagram.
ii) Complete the diagram to show the refracted ray.
2. Figure shows a coin placed in a large empty container. An observer
looking into the container from the position shown is unable to see
the coin.
Observe
r
Coin
Sketch two rays from a point on the coin to show how the observer
is able to
see the image of the coin after the container is filled with water.
3. An Eskimo walking along an Iceland observed an inverted image in
the sky of a polar bear standing some distance away. Explain
(2mks)
4. A coin is placed beneath a transparent block of thickness 10cm and
refractive index 1.50. Calculate the vertical displacement of the coin.
(3mks)
5. A ray of light is directed at an angle of 50 0 on to a liquid-air boundary.
The refractive index of the liquid is 1.4.Show on a diagram the patch
taken by the ray on striking the liquid-air boundary. Show how you
arrive at your answer.
6. A small object lies at the bottom of a water pond at a depth of
2.4m.Given that the refractive index of water is 1.3, determine the
apparent depth of the object. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
7. A nail at the bottom of a beaker containing glycerine appears to be
6.8 cm below the surface of glycerine. Determine the height of the
glycerine in the beaker. (take the refractive index of glycerine as
1.47) (3mk)
8. A beaker of height 10 cm is filled with water. An optical pin which is
at the bottom of the beaker is then viewed from the top of the
beaker. How far does the pin appear from the surface, if the refractive
4
index of water is 3 ) (2mk)
9. A pin is placed horizontally at the bottom of a beaker 9cm tall
completely filled with a liquid. Viewing from the top, the pin appears
to be 2cm above the bottom of the beaker. Calculate the refractive
index of the liquid. (3mk)
10. The real thickness of crown glass block of refractive index 1.58 is
10cm is 10cm. Calculate theapparent thickness of the glass.
11. A microscope is focused on a mark on a horizontal surface. A
rectangular glass block 30mm thick is placed on the mark. The
microscope is then adjusted 10mm upwards to bring the mark back
to focus. Determine the refractive index of the glass.
(3mk)
12. Calculate the apparent depth of an object, O in the fig below.
(3mk)
Glass block
20cm
n = 1.5
O
13. A traveling microscope (M) is focused on a coin placed at the bottom
of an empty beaker as shown in the figure below
M
M 3cm
Coin Coin
image
(i) (ii)
When water of refractive index 1.33 is poured into the beaker, the
microscope has to be raised through 3cm to focus the image of the
coin, figure (ii). Calculate the height of water poured into the beaker
(3mk)
14. A vertical pin is fixed at the centre of a rectangular container with thin
transparent walls as shown below.
A
5 cm Pin
A transparent liquid is then poured into the container. When viewed
from side A, the distance of the pin is 1.9cm from the edge, determine
the refractive index of the liquid. (2mk)
15. A small bright object O lies at the bottom of a beaker containing
water of depth h. A convex lens of focal length 15cm is held at the
surface of the water. With this arrangement the image of O is formed
at a point 45cm from the water surface as shown in the figure below.
Imag
e
45cm
Lens
h Observe
r
Taking the refractive index of water to be 4/3. Determine
(i) the apparent depth of the object (2mk)
(ii) the real depth h, of the object (3mk)
16. The data below shows the results obtained when such an experiment
was performed by form three students using various values of real
depths, Y of a liquid.
Real depth (cm) 30 50 70 90 110 130
Apparent depth(cm) 22 37 52 66 81 96
i) Plot a graph of the real depth (y-axis) against apparent depth.
ii) From the graph, determine the refractive index of the liquid.
17. In an experiment to determine refractive index of water, a black line is
painted on the bottom of a tall glass container which is then partially
filled with water. The black line appears closer than it is really. The
following results were recorded from the experiment
Real depth (cm) 8.1 12 16 20
Displacement (cm) 2.2 2.9 4 4.9
Apparent depth(cm)
i. Complete the table for apparent depth row
(2mks)
ii. Plot a graph of real depth against apparent depth on the grid
provided (5mks)
(iii) Determine the refractive index for the water
(2 mks)
18. The table below shows results obtained when an experiment was
carried out using various depths of a liquid.
Real depth (cm) 8.0 12.0 16.0 20.0 24.0 28.0
Apparent depth (cm) 4.88 7.32 9.76 12.20 14.64 17.08
(i) Use the table to plot a graph of apparent depth against real
depth(5mks)
(ii) Use the graph to determine the refractive index of the liquid.
(3mks)
(iii) What is the real depth of the pin when the apparent depth is
2.44cm? (2mks)
19. The graph shown below shows, the apparent depth (y-axis) against
real depth. Use it to calculate the refractive index of glass.
Apparent
depth (cm)
20
15
10
0 10 20 30 40
Real depth (cm)
