Which of the following is/are the result of refraction of light? ...
Option d is correct.
- The light does not travel in the same direction in all media. It appears that when travelling obliquely from one medium to another, the direction of propagation of light in the second medium changes. This phenomenon is known as refraction of light. Following are the examples of refraction of light: Option 1 is correct.
- Formation of a rainbow is an example of refraction as the sun rays bend through the raindrops resulting in the rainbow. Option 2 is correct.
- A swimming pool always looks shallower than it really is because the light coming from the bottom of the pool bends at the surface due to refraction of light. Option 3 is correct. Refraction can also be observed in the form of mirage, while driving down a road on a hot day.
Which of the following is/are the result of refraction of light? ...
Refraction of Light
Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different refractive index. It occurs due to the change in the speed of light when it travels from one medium to another. The phenomenon of refraction has several practical applications and can lead to various observable effects. Some of these effects include the formation of a rainbow, the apparent shallowness of a swimming pool, and the formation of a mirage on a hot day.
Formation of Rainbow
- When light passes through a medium (such as water droplets in the atmosphere), it undergoes refraction.
- As the light enters the water droplet, it slows down and bends, separating into its constituent colors.
- The different colors of light undergo further refraction and reflection within the droplet before exiting and forming a circular arc of colors in the sky, known as a rainbow.
A Swimming Pool Looking Shallower than it Actually is
- When light passes from air to water, it undergoes refraction due to the change in the refractive index between the two mediums.
- The change in direction of light as it enters the water makes objects in the pool appear closer to the surface than they actually are.
- This effect can make the pool appear shallower because the light rays reaching our eyes are bent, creating an illusion.
Formation of Mirage on a Hot Day
- A mirage is an optical illusion caused by the refraction of light in hot air above a surface, such as a road or desert.
- When the air near the surface is significantly hotter than the air above it, it creates a gradient in the refractive index.
- This gradient causes light rays from the sky to bend as they pass through the hot air, creating a distorted image of the sky or objects on the road.
- The mirage appears as a shimmering or wavering image, often resembling a pool of water or an inverted image.
Conclusion
All three effects mentioned in the options (formation of a rainbow, a swimming pool looking shallower than it actually is, and the formation of a mirage on a hot day) are the result of refraction of light. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' - 1, 2, and 3.