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Explain the formation of mirage.
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A person walking on a road observed some
when he went there actually he did not fin
called ? Explain that process.
Sometimes during the hot summer at noon ti
water on the road, but there would really be
enon ? Explain why it happens.
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Why do you see a mirage the road on a hot s
A. 1)
Answers
The phenomenon is called Mirage (EDIT: I called it Fata Morgana earlier, but a Fata Morgana is a special case of mirage that's a bit more complex). The responsible effect is the dependence of the refractive index of air on the density of air, which, in turn, depends on the temperature of the air (hot air being less dense than cold air).
Mechanism Leading to a Fata Morgana
A non-constant density leads to refraction of light. If there's a continuous gradient in the density, you get a bent curve (i) as opposed to light coming straight at you (d). Your eye does not know, of course, that the light (i) coming at it was bent, so your eye/brain continues the incoming light in a straight line (v).
This mirroring of the car (or other objects) then tricks you into thinking the road is wet, because a wet street would also lead to a reflection. In addition, the air wobbles (i.e. density fluctuations), causing the mirror image to wobble as well, which adds to the illusion of water.