A biologist keeps a specimen of his favorite beetle embedded in a cube of polystyrene plastic. The hapless bug appears to be 2.0 cm within the plastic.

Part A) What is the beetle's actual distance beneath the surface?

the beetle's actual distance beneath the surface, d = 3.2 cm

Explanation:

The refractive index for the plastic is about 1.60

For overhead viewing, the expression for refractive index is

n = actual depth / apparent depth

Rearrange for actual depth

actual depth d = n x apparent depth

d = 1.60 x 2.0 cm

d = 3.2 cm