Question

What is meant by atmospheric refraction of light?

Answer 1

Step 1: Earth's atmosphere

1. The atmosphere of the Earth is not uniform. It consists of many layers of air of different densities due to varying temperatures and pressure.
2. As we go higher, the density and the refractive index of the upper layers decrease subsequently.
3. Thus, the atmosphere is optically denser near the Earth's surface and rarer at higher altitudes.

Step 2: Atmospheric refraction

1. Refraction of light occurs when light rays travel through layers of the atmosphere with varying densities and refractive indices.
2. Thus, atmospheric refraction refers to the refraction of light through the atmosphere of the Earth.