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Question
State whether the following statement is true or false:
The planets twinkle at night due to atmospheric refraction of light.
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Solution
False. The planets do not twinkle at all because of the atmospheric refraction of light. As the planets are large bodies and very close to the earth, the continuously changing atmosphere cannot cause much deviations in the light coming from the planets. The brightness of the planets remains the same and they do not appear to twinkle.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
What is atmospheric refraction? Use this phenomenon to explain the following natural events:
Twinkling of stars
Draw diagrams to illustrate your answers.
Explain why the planets do not twinkle.
The correct sequencing of angle of incidence, angle of emergence, angle of refraction and lateral displacement shown in the following diagram by digits 1, 2, 3 and 4 is:
(a) 2, 4, 1, 3
(b) 2, 1, 4, 3
(c) 1, 2, 4, 3
(d) 2, 1, 3, 4
Name two effects produced by the atmospheric refraction.
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 ................
What is atmospheric refraction?
The twinkling of stars is due to atmospheric:
(a) reflection of light
(b) dispersion of light
(c) interference of light
(d) refraction of light
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
As light from a far off star comes down towards the earth:
(a) it bends away from the normal
(b) it bends towards the normal
(c) it does not bend at all
(d) it is reflected back
Due to atmospheric refraction of sunlight, the time from sunrise to sunset is lengthened by about:
(a) 6 minutes
(b) 2 minutes
(c) 4 minutes
(d) 5 minutes
The day is longer on the earth by about 4 minutes because:
(a) the earth is round in shape
(b) the earth rotates on its axis
(c) the earth revolves around the sun
(d) the earth has atmosphere
We know that light refracts (or bends) when it goes from one medium to another. Now, the atmosphere contains only air. Then how does light get refracted on passing through only air in the atmosphere?
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?
- Do you think that the students’ conclusion is correct?
What causes the scattering of blue component of sunlight in the atmosphere?
The stars appear higher from horizon than they actually are. Explain why it is so.
Refraction of light by the earth’s atmosphere due to variation in air density is called ____________.
