Question

Twinkling of stars is due to _____.

• A. reflection
• B. dispersion
• C. atmospheric refraction
• D. diffraction

Answer 1

The correct option is C

atmospheric refraction

Twinkling of stars is due to atmospheric refraction.
When light rays from stars enter the earth's atmosphere having different layers with different refractive indices, it undergoes multiple refractions. The light ray bents multiple times in different directions. Therefore, it looks like as if the star is changing its position and our eye interprets this as twinkling of stars.