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Question
The stars appear higher from horizon than they actually are. Explain why it is so.
Solution
Stars appear slightly higher from the horizon due to atmospheric refraction. The atmosphere bends the starlight towards the normal. This apparent positioning is not stationary but keeps changing.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
What is atmospheric refraction? Use this phenomenon to explain the following natural events:
Advanced sun-rise and delayed sun-set.
Draw diagrams to illustrate your answers.
The phenomenon that causes the twinkling of stars is refraction of light.
Fill in the following blank with suitable word:
We can see the sun about ................ minutes before the actual sunrise and about ................ minutes after the actual sunset because of atmospheric ................
The stars twinkle but the planets do not twinkle at night because:
(a) the stars are small but the planets are large
(b) the stars are very large but planets are small
(c) the stars are much nearer but planets are far off
(d) the stars are far off but planets are nearer to earth
A student claims that because of atmospheric refraction, the sun can be seen after it has set, and the day is, therefore, longer than if the earth had no atmosphere.
What does the student mean by saying that the sun can be seen after it has set?
State two effects produced by the scattering of light by the atmosphere.
What causes the scattering of blue component of sunlight in the atmosphere?
Which of the following is not caused by the atmospheric refraction of light?
(a) twinkling of stars at night
(b) sun appearing higher in the sky than it actually is
(c) sun becoming visible two minutes before actual sunrise
(d) sun appearing red at sunset
Explain the refraction of light through a triangular glass prism using a labelled ray diagram. Hence define the angle of deviation.
How does refraction take place in the atmosphere? Why do stars twinkle but not the planets?
