When a mirage occurs, it is primarily the light that is being refracted. Specifically, the light rays from the sky or surrounding environment are bending due to temperature differences in the air layers near the ground. This is most commonly seen in hot conditions, where the ground is much hotter than the air above it, causing the light from the blue sky or distant objects (like the road or sand) to bend and create the illusion of water or a reflective surface. So, while the light from the blue sky is what is being refracted to create the mirage effect, the mirage usually appears on surfaces like the road or sand.
When a mirage occurs what are is being refracted?
water vapor
the road or sand
blue sky
3 answers
a b c or d
The correct answer is b: the road or sand.
In a mirage, it is the light rays that travel over the hot surface (like a road or sand) that are being refracted, creating the illusion of water or reflective surfaces.