An insect is trapped inside a piece of amber (n=1.546)...

An insect is trapped inside a piece of amber $(n=1.546)$ Looking at the insect from directly above, it appears to be $7.00 \mathrm{mm}$ below a smooth surface of the amber. How far below the surface is the insect?

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Key Concepts

Index of Refraction

The index of refraction is a measure of how much a ray of light slows down when passing through a medium compared to its speed in a vacuum. It is a key parameter in optics that influences how light bends when it moves between materials with different refractive indices.

Snell's Law

Snell's Law is the fundamental relationship in optics that governs the refraction of light as it travels between different media. It relates the angles of incidence and refraction to the indices of refraction of the two media, providing the basis for calculating the apparent position of objects underwater or in other refracting environments.

Apparent Depth

Apparent depth refers to the perceived depth of an object when viewed through a refractive medium. Due to the bending of light at the interface between two media with different refractive indices, the object appears closer to the surface than it actually is. This concept is essential in determining the true location of objects observed through transparent materials.

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