Three media P, Q and R have refractive indices 1, 1.25 and 1.5. A 5 cm thick layer Q lies between media P and R. An object O is at the centre of Q. Its apparent depths viewed nearly normally from media P and R are h₁ and h₂. Find |h₁ - h₂| in cm. Image
Options

Question

Three media P, Q and R have refractive indices 1, 1.25 and 1.5. A 5 cm thick layer Q lies between media P and R. An object O is at the centre of Q. Its apparent depths viewed nearly normally from media P and R are h₁ and h₂. Find |h₁ - h₂| in cm. Image

Options

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Step 1: The object lies at the midpoint of the Q slab, so its real distance to either interface is 2.5 cm. Step 2: For observation from medium P across Q, apparent depth h₁ = real depth × (nₚ/n_q) = 2.5 × (1/1.25) = 2.0 cm. Step 3: For observation from medium R across Q, apparent depth h₂ = 2.5 × (nᵣ/n_q) = 2.5 × (1.5/1.25) = 3.0 cm. Step 4: |h₁ − h₂| = |2 − 3| = 1 cm. Final answer: 1 cm (Option B).

Three media P, Q and R have refractive indices 1, 1.25 and 1.5. A 5 cm thick layer Q lies between media P and R. An object O is at the centre of Q. Its apparent depths viewed nearly normally from media P and R are h₁ and h₂. Find |h₁ − h₂| in cm. Image