Refraction+of+Light+in+Air

=Unit 2 Optics=

Chapter 5 Optical systems make use of mirrors and lenses.
5.1 The Ray Model of Light


 * Refraction of Light in Air** pg. 175

Paragraph: This section, Refraction of Light in Air, describes how and why there are mirages in the air. First of all, refraction occurs when light travels through air at different temperatures. Have you seen illusions when there is fire? It seems that the fire has waves and the air creates a mirage, a misleading appearance. Also, this happens when you are driving along a road on a hot summer day and you notice that ahead of you, they look like pools of water. However, when you get close to them, they somehow disappear. This is an example of a mirage. The result is that they are actually images of the sky refracted by warm air near the ground. Read more about this section on p.175. **
 * **Questions** || **Answers** ||
 * When can refraction occur? || When light travels through air at different temperatures. ||
 * What does light do when it travels through different densities of air? || Create mirages ||
 * Define mirage. || misleading appearance or illusion ||
 * What are "pools" on a hot summer day? || examples of air closer to the ground is hotter, while less dense air higher up. ||
 * Light from the sky directed at the ground is bent upward as it enters the _ dense air. || less ||
 * Is the air closer to the ground hotter? || yes ||
 * Is the air higher up more dense? || no ||
 * What are "pools" on a hot summer day? || examples of air closer to the ground is hotter, while less dense air higher up. ||
 * Light from the sky directed at the ground is bent upward as it enters the _ dense air. || less ||
 * Is the air closer to the ground hotter? || yes ||
 * Is the air higher up more dense? || no ||
 * Is the air closer to the ground hotter? || yes ||
 * Is the air higher up more dense? || no ||
 * Is the air higher up more dense? || no ||
 * Picture: