Question

During winter evening, the image of a ship is seen formed in the air in sea-sky, it is due to total internal reflection.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is A

True

It is due to total internal reflection. In the cold evening, over sea-bed seawater becomes too cold. Air layer in its contact is cold and denser. As we go up, the air layer becomes less and less cold and hence rarer. Rays from an invisible ship going upward go from denser to rarer air layers. They are totally reflected downwards and received by an observer at sea-shore. The observer sees an image (virtual) of the ship hanging in the sky.