Question

Explain the term atmospheric refraction.

Answer 1

Answer:

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Atmospheric refraction is the deviation of light or other electromagnetic wave from a straight line as it passes through the atmosphere due to the variation in air density as a function of height. ... Astronomical or celestial refraction causes astronomical objects to appear higher above the horizon than they actually are.

Answer 2

Answer:-

HEY MATE,

HERE'S YOUR ANSWER.

Atmospheric refraction is the deviation of light or other electromagnetic wave from a straight line as it passes through the atmosphere due to the variation in air density as a function of height. Astronomical or celestial refraction causes astronomical objects to appear higher above the horizon than they actually are.

The atmosphere of Earth is not evenly distributed, it is optically and molecularly denser at the bottom and and becomes rarer as we up, so the velocity of light changes from layer to layer. The molecules of different gases and dust partcles have different optical densities , moreover the hot air is optically rarer than cold air. These factors form differnt layers of air with different optical densities and thus cause the atmospheric refration.