Refraction at water-air interface

Steps:

• Light ray travels from underwater source toward water surface.
• At interface, ray moves from denser medium (water, n≈1.33) to rarer medium (air, n=1).
• Apply Snell's law: ray bends away from normal, increasing angle of refraction.
• Path emerges into air at larger angle unless total internal reflection occurs.

Why C is correct:

• Snell's law (n₁ sin i = n₂ sin r) dictates bending away from normal when entering rarer medium, matching path C.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Shows reflection back into water, violating refraction for exiting rays.
• B: Depicts bending toward normal, correct only for light entering water from air.
• D: Assumes no bending, ignoring refractive index difference.

Final answer: C