A bird in the air looks at a fish vertically below it and inside the water in a tank. If the distance of the fish as estimated by the bird is x1 and that of the bird as estimated by the fish is x2, then the refractive index of water is ______.

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A bird in the air looks at a fish vertically below it and inside the water in a tank. If the distance of the fish as estimated by the bird is x1 and that of the bird as estimated by the fish is x2, then the refractive index of water is bbunderline(x_2/x_1). Explanation: The fish is in water, so it sees the bird in the air. The distance (x2) estimated by the fish is the real height of the bird (in air). The bird sees the fish in the water and estimates the distance (x1), which is the apparent depth of the fish underwater. The refractive index of water, defined as the ratio of real depth to apparent depth, is: $\therefore$ Refractive index = x_2/x_1 Here, (x2) is the real distance (bird’s height) and (x1) is the apparent distance (fish’s depth), so the refractive index is x_2/x_1.

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