A small drop of water  that is free to fall in air will contract into a spherical ball.  Suppose that sunlight (this will be as if from infinity) passes into the drop.  Approximately where will an image of the Sun form?  Water has an index of refraction of about 1.33 for visible light, and to answer this question consider what happens when light passes through the first surface from air into the water.  Where does it go? Hint:  If in doubt about your math, try an experiment at home.  You can use sunlight or a distant flashlight to illuminate a suspended water drop.      At the back surface of the drop.     Spherical drops cannot form an image.     Close to the back far side of the drop, on the outside.     Close to the back side of the drop, on the inside

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A small drop of water  that is free to fall in air will contract into a spherical ball.  Suppose that sunlight (this will be as if from infinity) passes into the drop.  Approximately where will an image of the Sun form?  Water has an index of refraction of about 1.33 for visible light, and to answer this question consider what happens when light passes through the first surface from air into the water.  Where does it go?

Hint:  If in doubt about your math, try an experiment at home.  You can use sunlight or a distant flashlight to illuminate a suspended water drop. 

   

At the back surface of the drop.

   

Spherical drops cannot form an image.

   

Close to the back far side of the drop, on the outside.

   

Close to the back side of the drop, on the inside 

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