All Questions
Tagged with optics everyday-life
184
questions
2
votes
2
answers
102
views
Why do gaps in my blinds create multiple lines?
Multiple lines appear on my floor every morning from the gaps in my blinds.
Why does this happen and does it have to do with light being a wave, like in the double slit experiment? If so could it be ...
- 23
1
vote
1
answer
39
views
Is it possible to see thermal columns?
The most common way gliders gain altitude is to circle in a thermal. Thermals are often found below cumulus clouds, or above dark areas on the ground. Without these signs, they are harder to find and ...
- 111
0
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How does the mirror know what’s behind the paper?
I found this on social media. Although it was posted for fun, this is a valid question: How does the mirror know what’s behind the paper?
Show me how light reflected from the egg reaches the mirror.
- 5,054
9
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Does the fingernail test for detecting two-way mirrors really work?
I was looking for the working of a two way mirror when I came across this video. The person says that if you place your finger on the mirror and there's no gap between the image and the finger, then ...
- 702
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How does a Magic Mirror work?
I recently found out about the Magic Mirror. Both sides of the mirror look the same, and it appears to be dark, if looked at closely, like sunglasses (but lighter in colour) but looks like a normal ...
- 702
0
votes
2
answers
129
views
Why do I seem to see more depth in images when closing one eye?
I remember that when researching and learning about vanishing points and vantage points of art pieces, that by closing one eye and viewing a painting from an exact point in space, it would give this ...
- 103
0
votes
0
answers
24
views
Effects of chromatic aberration in the human eye
Due to metamerism, many different light spectra can be used to show a white colour.
If I understand it correctly, it is even possible to make white light by combining only two monochromatic light ...
8
votes
1
answer
504
views
Skylight reflection shows birefringence patterns
I noticed that the skylight where I work looked white to me, but its reflection from the tiles below showed a colorful pattern. See the images below, and also a video that shows this effect from ...
- 12.5k
3
votes
1
answer
116
views
Why are the surface of most liquid so reflective?
I saw a puddle of water on the road and I noticed that I can very clearly see the reflection on its surface in almost 8k high definition of each cars and buses that drove by. I went to the canteen and ...
- 13k
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
Why image of high-altitude clouds is formed in a shallow lake? [closed]
Suppose we look at the surface of a lake and see a reflected image of high-altitude clouds in the sky. The distance of a cloud from the lake is far more than the depth of lake. So then how can an ...
0
votes
1
answer
73
views
What causes the curvy line to exist? [duplicate]
Excuse me, but I am wondering what optical phenomena causes the curvy line to exist on the iron fence?
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
58
views
What are natural retro-reflectors?
Recently I was on an airplane on a sunny day. The sun was shining on the other side of the plane and noticed a bright patch on the ground following beside us. Eventually I noticed a dark centre to ...
- 8,803
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
How might one produce a glory -- a circular rainbow -- in crystal?
A glory is the technical name for a full circle rainbow, such as is sometimes (but rarely) seen from below above a waterfall, or below from above a cloud. I am asking this question here. because it ...
- 141
0
votes
0
answers
55
views
Why does a shadow of a fork 'dissappear' once submerged? [duplicate]
NO SHADOW of the fork!
A distinct black shadow can be observed at the bottom of a glass before and after the fork enters the water, but the shadow disappears at the instant of entry, is this a ...
- 1
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why is an arrow pointing through a glass of water only flipped vertically but not horizontally?
Look at the bottom picture for example. If I try to imagine the glass of water as a lens, shouldn't it be flipped in both axes? Why does it only flip in one axis?
- 159