Is it true that light bends near the sun due to its gravitational effect? Or something else?

Question

As per the existing knowledge the light bends due to the curvature of space time near gravitating body like sun. But we know that sun is a huge body of gas. we know that light chages its path as it passes through a chaging refractive index. Isn't it due to the suns atmosphere that light bend?

Answer 1

Yes! It is true that light rays bend near any star due to their gravitational force exerted on the photons. This is based on the Einstein's theory of relativity. According to his theory, stars bend the space time consortium around them in such a way that the path of light rays get diverted or altered. In case of a black hole, the space near the hole is bent in such a way that the light rays are diverted into the star itself as they cannot overcome the huge gravitational pull of the black hole.

Answer 2

It's the gravitational bend. Two reasons:

1. The amount of bending was exactly predicted by Einstein
2. For the refractive index to change perceptibly a much higher gas density is required than present in the corona of the sun

Answer 3

Interesting take, but the question is mute. We're seeing light bend in a totally new direction, and if you remember anything about lenses, it is that there is a degree of diffusion associated with the diffraction that you are refering to. We're seeing no distinct frequency/ wavelength differences in the light that is bending, meaning this is not a diffraction phenomena. The experiments that show light bending generally focus on one of the hydrogen emission lines at a very specific wavelength. Alterations in this wavelength could suggest bending due to atmospheric conditions of the sun, but no such alterations are seen. Therefore, it is wise to read up on General Relativity because this appears to be a case which is explained well by it.

Answer 4

Good question! I've never heard anyone ask that one!

The easiest way to determine which effect results in bending light is to apply the formulas for each and compare the predicted effect with the measured reality.

It turns out, of course, that refraction can't account for the observed effect.

Answer 5

Yes, its gravitational lensing, it was formulated by Einstein in his General Theory of Relativity and emperically observed in 1919 during a solar eclipse, when Arthur Eddington observed the light from stars passing close to the sun was slightly bent, so that stars appeared slightly out of position.

Answer 6

The light bends because of an effect called "Gravitational Lensing".

Answer 7

gravity or gravitational force is known to pull objects closer to the centre of the gravity of the object, something like magnets drawing the needles to settle down the centre of its mass.
sun is a burning mass consisting of different gases towards the periphary. these gases are having molecues which are pulled towards their centre of gravity by the high g force of the sun.
light from the sun is seen as a flower with petals because the entire spherical body is burning and radiating heat as well as light from its periphary and core.
when the light falls on particles-molecules of gases which are continuously attracted by sun the light waves appear as bent but actually is due to the turbulent nature of the molecules of gaseous atmosphere.

Answer 8

Light will bend near the sun due to its gravitational pull, much the same as it will bend near a black hole, even though a black hole has no atmosphere.

Answer 9

Light bends not because of the sun's gravity, but due to a curved universe.

Answer 10

It COULD BE true!! The size affects the gravitational pull of the matter. And with the Sun being 1000 times larger than all the planets in the galaxy COMPBINED!!(Wahh! I miss you Pluto!) It's HIGHLY possible that photons could be PULLED awkwardly toward the Sun!