One sometimes hears the expression, "It was like shooting fish in a barrel!" This usually is taken to mean that the task, whatever it was, was easy to complete. But is it really easy to shoot fish in a barrel? Only if you know some optics! Suppose you're in a boat and spy a large fish a few meters away. If you want to shoot the fish, how should you aim? Above the image of the fish? Below it? Directly at the image? Explain your choice. (You may assume that the path of the projectile you fire will not be deviated from a straight line upon entering the water, unlike light.)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Below the image.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the refraction of light

When light passes from air to water, or vice versa, it bends due to the difference in the speed of light in the two media. This phenomenon is called refraction. When looking at objects in the water from above (in the air), the objects appear closer and shifted because of refraction, which causes the fish's image to be at a different angle and position compared to its actual position.
02

Eliminate incorrect aiming options

Since we know that light is refracted, and the image of the fish is not in its actual position but seems closer and shifted upward due to refraction, aiming above or at the image is not a good option. The fish's actual position is below the refracted image we see.
03

Choose the correct aiming option

The projectile path is not deviated upon entering the water (unlike light). Therefore, aiming directly at the image would not result in hitting the fish because the fish's actual position is below its image, which appears closer and shifted upward due to refraction. To increase the chances of successfully shooting the fish, one should aim slightly below the fish's image. This is because the fish's real position lies below the refracted image seen above the water. So, the correct choice for aiming would be **below the image** of the fish.

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