Contextualization

In Physics, the refraction of light is a phenomenon that occurs when light passes through the interface between two mediums with different refractive indexes. This causes the light to change direction and speed. One of the consequences of this phenomenon is the apparent position, which means that we see an object in a different position from its real position when it is submerged in a medium other than air, such as water, for example.

To understand the concept of apparent position, it is important to know some key concepts, such as Snell-Descartes' law, which describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction when light passes from one medium to another. Additionally, it is crucial to understand the difference between the real position (where the object actually is) and the apparent position (where we see the object).

The apparent position has several practical applications that go beyond Physics, covering different areas such as Biology, Astronomy, Engineering, among others. In Biology, for example, the apparent position plays a fundamental role in vision. Studies on the refraction of light in the cornea and aqueous humor help us understand how objects are visualized by the human eye.

In the field of Astronomy, atmospheric refraction makes stars appear to be in slightly different positions from their actual positions. This is especially noticeable when we observe celestial bodies near the horizon. In addition, in Engineering and Architecture, the apparent position is taken into account when designing the lighting of buildings and in creating art projects that use light.

I recommend the following sources for study and further exploration of the topic:

1. Book: Halliday, D., Resnick, R., Walker, J: "Fundamentals of Physics - Optics and Modern Physics", Vol. 4, LTC Editora, 9th Edition.
2. Video: Channel "Science every day" on Youtube - It has a very enlightening video entitled "Why do we see things out of place under water?".
3. Website: Brasil Escola - It has a very didactic article on the Refraction of Light.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Where, after all, is the object in the water?"

Project objective

The purpose of this project is to deeply understand the concept of light refraction and the phenomenon of apparent position, based on practical experiments and research on the topic.

Project Description

This project will be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students, with a deadline of one month for its completion. Each student should have between 5 and 10 hours to contribute to the development of the project. The activities will be divided into two main parts: an experimental part, where the students will carry out a practical activity and a theoretical part, where the students will research the concepts involved in the practical activity.

Required Materials

To carry out the practical activity, the following materials will be needed:

• A transparent container (can be glass or plastic)
• Water
• A small object (can be a coin or a marker)
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Paper

Step by Step

1. Fill the container with water.
2. Place the object at the bottom of the container.
3. Observe the object from different angles.
4. Now, with the help of the ruler, try to measure the real depth and the apparent depth of the object.
5. Compare the results.

During the practical activity, students should discuss and record their observations, offering hypotheses to explain the observed phenomena.

In the theoretical part, students should research the concepts of light refraction, Snell-Descartes' law, and apparent position. They should then use what they have learned to explain the results of the practical activity. It is important to emphasize that this project is not only about getting the right answers, but also about the process of investigation and learning.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, each group should submit a report containing the following sections:

1. Introduction: In this section, students should contextualize the phenomenon of apparent position, present its relevance and application in the field of Physics and in the real world, and explain the objective of the project.

2. Development: In this section, students should explain the theory behind the apparent position, detail the practical activity carried out, present the methodology used and discuss the results obtained. Students should strive to connect the theoretical concepts learned with the practical results obtained in their activity.

3. Conclusion: The students should recap the main points of the project, explain the lessons learned and the conclusions about the project.

4. Bibliography: Students should list all the sources used to carry out the project: books, websites, videos, among others.

With the practical activity and the writing of the report, students will be working not only on technical skills from the Physics discipline, but also on socio-emotional skills such as time management, communication, problem solving, creative thinking and proactivity.