As sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it changes direction due to the small difference between the speeds of light in vacuum and in air. The duration of an optical day is defined as the time interval between the instant when the top of the rising Sun is just visible above the horizon andthe instant when the top of the Sun just disappears below the horizontal plane. The duration of the geometric day is defined as the time interval between the instant a mathematically straight line between an observer and the top of the Sun just clears the horizon and the instant this linejust dips below the horizon. (a) Explain which is longer, an optical day or a geometric day. (b) Find the difference between these two time intervals. Model the Earth’s atmosphere as uniform, with index of refraction 1.000 293, a sharply defined upper surface, and depth 8 614 m. Assume the observer is at the Earth’s equator so that the apparent path of the rising and setting Sun is perpendicular to the horizon.
Refraction of Light
Refraction is a change in the direction of light rays when they travel from one medium to another. It is the bending of light when it goes through different media.
Angle of Refraction
Light is considered by many scientists to have dual nature, both particle nature and wave nature. First, Particle nature is one in which we consider a stream of packets of energy called photons. Second, Wave nature is considering light as electromagnetic radiation whereas part of it is perceived by humans. Visible spectrum defined by humans lies in a range of 400 to 700 nm wavelengths.
Index of Refraction of Diamond
Diamond, the world’s hardest naturally occurring material and mineral known, is a solid form of the element carbon. The atoms are arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. They exist in a huge variety of colours. Also, they are one of the best conductors of heat and have a very high melting point.
As sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it changes direction due to the small difference between the speeds of light in vacuum and in air. The duration of an optical day is defined as the time interval between the instant when the top of the rising Sun is just visible above the horizon and
the instant when the top of the Sun just disappears below the horizontal plane. The duration of the geometric day is defined as the time interval between the instant a mathematically straight line between an observer and the top of the Sun just clears the horizon and the instant this line
just dips below the horizon. (a) Explain which is longer, an optical day or a geometric day. (b) Find the difference between these two time intervals. Model the Earth’s atmosphere as uniform, with index of refraction 1.000 293, a sharply defined upper surface, and depth 8 614 m. Assume the observer is at the Earth’s equator so that the apparent path of the rising and setting Sun is perpendicular to the horizon.
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