Bird & Fish Refraction Homework | See How Many Images

  • Thread starter harambe
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In summary, the vessel is filled with water of refractive index 4/3 and has a height of 60cm. The fish F is located 40cm below the surface of the water and the bird B is 30cm above the surface. The bottom of the vessel acts as a plane mirror. By considering the refraction from the surface of the water and the reflection from the mirror, there should be two images of the fish that the bird can see. To find the distance between the bird and the image of the fish formed by the mirror, first calculate the distance without water and then take into account the effect of the water.
  • #1
harambe
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Homework Statement


A vessel is filled with water of refractive index 4/3.The height of the vessel is 60cm.A fish F is at 40 cm below the surface of water.A bird B is 30cm above the surface of water.The bottom of the vessel behaves as plane mirror. How many images of fish will be seen by the bird

Homework Equations


Real Depth/ Relative Depth= Refractive index of water[/B]

The Attempt at a Solution



So I think one of the images will be due to refraction from the surface of the water like in this case:
upload_2018-4-20_9-3-48.png
Now I think there should be one more image because there will be a plane mirror.So the fish will get reflected from the plane mirror but I am not sure what will follow after that.[/B]
 

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  • #2
How can you find the distance from the bird to the image of the fish formed by the mirror? First find the distance if the vessel has no water. Then consider the difference that putting in the water will make.
 

1. How does refraction work for birds and fish?

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through different mediums. In the case of birds and fish, the light travels from air to water (or vice versa), causing the light to bend and creating multiple images of the same object.

2. Why do birds and fish see multiple images?

Birds and fish see multiple images due to the refraction of light as it passes through the air-water interface. This causes the images to appear distorted or duplicated.

3. How does the angle of refraction affect the number of images seen?

The angle of refraction is directly related to the number of images seen. The greater the angle of refraction, the more images will be seen. This is because a larger angle of refraction means a greater bending of light and therefore, more images.

4. Do all birds and fish experience refraction in the same way?

No, not all birds and fish experience refraction in the same way. This is because different species have different shapes and sizes of their eyes, which can affect the way light is refracted and the number of images seen.

5. How does refraction affect the survival of birds and fish?

Refraction can have both positive and negative effects on the survival of birds and fish. On one hand, it can help them to locate food and avoid predators by providing them with a wider field of vision. On the other hand, it can also cause confusion and disorientation, making it difficult for them to accurately judge distance and depth.

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