[paul.fr]

I am standing at the side of the pool, and the sign says it is 2m deep. Why when viewed from above does it look shallow, and nowhere near 2m deep?

[lightarrow]

I am standing at the side of the pool, and the sign says it is 2m deep. Why when viewed from above does it look shallow, and nowhere near 2m deep?

Because of refraction, light is bent making a greater angle when it comes out of water going in air, so they seems coming from a less distance, that is, an object inside water seems positioned at a less distance. It would be more easy to explain with a drawing.

[lightarrow]

is this like magnification. when i look into a pool like that it seems that the water almost acts like a magnifying glass, making the bottom of the pool look closer and the water decievingly less deep. i am not sure what is really happening, but it is a thought. light plays a lot of tricks on water when it comes to respect of our eyes.

Something alike.