1
$\begingroup$

Since mirage, in optics, the deceptive appearance of a distant object or objects caused by the bending of light rays (refraction) in layers of air of varying density. The normal path of light rays carrying a direct image is shown by the black line. Just like sunlight reflected downward from the upper portion of an object—for example, the top of a camel in the desert—will be directed through the cool air in the normal way. And with this mirage how can it be relate in the mirror? How can a mirror be used to explain the appearance of mirages?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Mirage is related to light refraction in consequent air layers, not reflection as in mirror. Hence it produces a virtual image. It works much like gravitational lensing, except that reason for light bending here is not gravity but refraction index gradient in hot air masses. $\endgroup$
    – Agnius Vasiliauskas
    Commented Jan 21 at 9:36

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$

Mirage is more related to a prizm rather than a mirror - the rays coming from a distance object bend due to inhomogeneous air density, and thus become visible at distances where the direct rays would be blocked by the Earth's curvature.

There is however a related phenomenon that resembles a mirror: when the air is heated over a flat surface, the rays coming from the nearby objects bend in a way that creates an impression that they are coming from the surface itself - it then resembles a mirror. E.g., when driving on an empty highway on a hot day one may observe the "reflection" of the nearby trees or structures on the road ahead.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Thankyouu for your answer!!! @vadim $\endgroup$
    – Shell
    Commented Apr 12, 2021 at 9:06
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Your answer has been truncated at an unsuitable place $\endgroup$
    – Ruslan
    Commented Apr 12, 2021 at 9:59
0
$\begingroup$

Most of the schematic figures representing the ray paths in the case of mirages are wrong. They represent smoothly bending curves, while the change of refraction index of the air above a hot ground surface, like in a desert or even a highway in the summertime, is confined to a thin layer. In its respect, a correct and in-scale drawing would be indistinguishable from the case of a reflection by a plane mirror.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.