All Questions
Tagged with refraction everyday-life
32
questions
7
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What's at the end of a rainbow?
I recently saw a video where someone saw the end of a rainbow as it went into a lake. How is this even possible considering the fact that rainbows have no ends and are circular in nature?
Edit: I ...
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 ...
- 332
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 ...
- 207k
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 ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
55
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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 ...
- 6,636
4
votes
2
answers
213
views
Unexpected rainbow in window
Lately, I observed a rainbow-like ring forming in my window during nighttime when the light enters from a street lamp. Interestingly, the sequence of colors in the rainbow seems to be reversed from ...
- 2,629
0
votes
0
answers
51
views
Does the speed of an object underwater change when viewed above?
Let's say a submarine is coming to surface with a velocity $v$ normal to the surface of water and let's say you are the admiral of the navy viewing the submarine from the top. The submarine is exactly ...
- 207k
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Where does the "water" come from in a mirage?
First, I would like to clarify that I know why a mirage is formed, what I want to know is why is it that when a mirage is formed it appears that a pool of water is present.
Like for a palm tree in a ...
- 155
15
votes
1
answer
11k
views
Why does the light at the bottom of the pool form this awesome pattern?
Take a look at the following picture:
Why does the light at the bottom of the water form this pattern? I have also seen the same phenomenon in all the swimming pools I've ever visited, of whatever ...
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
Why we see only one rainbow at some far away and not like many separated by some distance but making that same angle of 42°? [duplicate]
We know that angle needed to see a rainbow assuming sun is at horizon is 42° but then why will that rainbow formation be unique and why not at that angle many rainbows be form in that angle why just a ...
- 207k
10
votes
2
answers
4k
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Why do mirages only appear on hot days?
A previous question asked why the road sometimes appears wet on hot days.
The reason is that when there's a temperature gradient in the air, it causes a gradient in the index of refraction, causing ...
- 3,778
0
votes
1
answer
481
views
Why don't we see rainbows from mirrors?
Should this not be the case whenever light strikes a thick mirror on the whole (obliquely)??
Someone please clarify.
- 207k
18
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why are the edges of the shadow so bright?
Today I noticed something while playing with my specs (having diverging lenses).
Have a look at it :
This is the shadow of my specs on the wall in sunlight. The region of the lens appears darker and ...
- 8,230
5
votes
1
answer
686
views
What causes this weird shape through frosted glass? [closed]
I was looking at my frosted window and found that the light behind it from the neighbors house looked like this:
Behind the frosted glass is simply an ordinary CFL bulb. The frosting pattern on the ...
- 27.4k
1
vote
1
answer
731
views
Why light rays gets scattered when it enters a translucent window pane?
Consider the light source is the light post, outside the window of my house (Pic 1). When the rays from the light post enters through the window pane which is translucent gets scattered and forms a ...
