Write short note on "Refraction observed in the atmosphere".
In
the atmosphere, there are different layers of air with different refractive
indices which keep on changing as the physical conditions of air are not
stationary .When we observe any object through this air, the light coming from
them refract randomly due to which the apparent position of the object fluctuates.
The large scale effect of this phenomenon is the twinkling of stars, advanced
sunrise and delayed sunset.
Due
to change in the refractive index of atmosphere, the intensity of light that
reaches our eyes from the stars varies and hence the stars appear twinkling at
night. Advanced sunrise occurs as a ray of light from the sun enters the
earth’s atmosphere; it follows a curved path due to refraction before reaching
to the observer. It appears to the observer as if the rays are coming from the
position where the sun is seen by the observer, hence, the sun is seen earlier
before it reaches the horizon.
In the atmosphere, there are different layers of air with different refractive indices which keep on changing as the physical conditions of air are not stationary .When we observe any object through this air, the light coming from them refract randomly due to which the apparent position of the object fluctuates. The large scale effect of this phenomenon is the twinkling of stars, advanced sunrise and delayed sunset.
Due to change in the refractive index of atmosphere, the intensity of light that reaches our eyes from the stars varies and hence the stars appear twinkling at night. Advanced sunrise occurs as a ray of light from the sun enters the earth’s atmosphere; it follows a curved path due to refraction before reaching to the observer. It appears to the observer as if the rays are coming from the position where the sun is seen by the observer, hence, the sun is seen earlier before it reaches the horizon.
