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What is atmospheric refraction? Explain with the help of a labelled diagram that the position of a star as seen by us is not its true position.
The refraction of light caused by the earth's atmosphere is called atmospheric refraction.
The position of a star as seen by us is not its true position, it seems higher than they actually are due to the phenomenon of atmospheric refraction. It can be understood with the help of a diagram given below.
When the light coming from the star enters the earth's atmosphere, it gets refracted (bent), as it leaves space (a vacuum). In the atmosphere air higher up in the sky is rarer but nearer the earth's surface, it is denser. Thus, as the light from the star comes down, the dense air bends the light more. Hence, due to this refraction of star's light, the position of a star as seen by us is not its true position.
Updated on: 10-Oct-2022
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