Question

Small air bubbles rising up a fish tank appear silvery when viewed from some particular angle because of the phenomenon of :

• A. reflection
• B. refraction
• C. total internal reflection
• D. dispersion

Answer 1

The correct option is C

total internal reflection

The explanation for the correct answer

(c) total internal reflection

• The rays of light that enter the water from below go through refraction.
• If these rays strike the water surface with an angle greater than the critical angle of water which is$48°$, which gets totally internally reflected.
• When these rays come out makes the bubble appears silvery.

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The explanation for the incorrect answer

(a) reflection

In reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection which makes the object look the same as it is.

(b) refraction

Refraction makes the object look bigger or smaller when the rays pass from one medium to another.

(d) dispersion

In this process, the object is distributed in a specific pattern.

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Small air bubbles rising up a fish tank appear silvery when viewed from some particular angle because of the phenomenon of total internal reflection.