Question

Difference between optical horizon and radio horizon

Answer 1

radio signal bents around the curvature of earth and hence travel longer distance than the line of sight signal. At ultra high frequencies signal follows the line of sight path and hence maximum communication distance is limited due to curvature of earth for given height of transmitting and receiving antenna

Answer 2

The key difference is that the optical horizon is visible to our eyes while the radio horizon is not.

• Beyond the radio horizon, microwaves are not twisted or refracted in any way.
• Our eyes cannot see this horizon because they are typically located farther than the optical horizon.
• The variation in atmospheric refractive changes affects the distance to the radio horizon.
• The distance between the radio and optical horizons increases if k is less than 1, where k is the correction factor.
• On the other hand, microwaves are twisted or refracted past the optical horizon.
• We can see this horizon with our eyes.
• The optical horizon is not affected by variations in atmospheric refractive index.
• If k > 1, where K is the correction factor, the optical horizon is farther distant from the radio horizon.

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