Insect in amber

Electricity and Magnetism Level 1

A rectangular block of amber has a small insect embedded in it. The insect appears to be $7.0 \text{ mm}$ below the flat surface of the amber. The index of refraction of the amber is known to be $1.54.$ Find the insect’s approximate actual distance beneath the surface.

18.0 \text{ mm}

3.0 \text{ mm}

11.0 \text{ mm}

7.0 \text{ mm}

3 solutions

Sravan Kumar
Nov 18, 2014

refractive index=actual depth/apparent depth
1.54=actual/7 actual depth~=11.0

Faiz Kumar
Jun 16, 2014

Refractive index= actual depth/ apparent depth 1.54=actual/ 7

Shipra Chansoriya
Jun 2, 2014

1.54=(real depth/apparent depth) => 1.54=h/7 => h=10.78 mm