Question

The formation of a mirage is explained using:

Options

• dispersion of light in water droplets suspended in air

• refraction and total internal reflection in layers of air at different temperatures

• diffraction of light around hot objects on the ground

• polarization of light by the surface of the earth

Answer 1

Mirage formation is explained using refraction and total internal reflection in layers of air at different temperatures. Light bends through the temperature-varying air layers and undergoes total internal reflection, creating the mirage illusion.