can anyone tell me what it is called when it looks like water in desert or in hot places from a distance but it is actually not water but it is hot air or a kind of reflection...
2007-02-03 05:17:50 · 14 answers · asked by leo 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It's called a mirage
2007-02-03 05:20:22 · answer #1 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A mirage is a naturally-occurring optical phenomenon, in which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. The word comes from the Latin mirare, meaning 'to appear, to seem'. This is the same root as for mirror. Like a mirror, a mirage shows images of things which are elsewhere. The principal physical cause of a mirage, however, is refraction and not reflection.
2007-02-03 06:34:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mirage
2007-02-03 05:20:58 · answer #3 · answered by Sparkles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is called mirage and it is due to total internal reflection of light coming from sun . in deserts sand get heated by sun and the lower layers of air become very hot. the air therefore expands and its density decreases.as we go higher the air become less and less hot. as the layer of light proceed towards earth the angle of incidence goes on increasing therefore inverted image is formed .
2007-02-03 05:35:22 · answer #4 · answered by amit g 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You mean when its real hot and as you look outward the sky or just below it seems to be blury? or ur talking about a mirage.
2007-02-03 06:04:55 · answer #5 · answered by Nicholais S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is called a mirage.
2007-02-03 10:43:27 · answer #6 · answered by funnelweb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mirage.
Some synonyms: optical illusion, hallucination, apparition, fantasy, chimera, vision figment of imagination.
2007-02-03 05:29:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its called mirage.It happens due to uneven heating of different layers of atmosphere because of which total internal reflection takes place
2007-02-03 05:21:50 · answer #8 · answered by money money 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a mirage. its caused by heat waves
2007-02-03 05:21:06 · answer #9 · answered by elemenopee. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a mirage
2007-02-03 05:20:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋