when looking at an object that is really hot, you can see ripply waves rising from it, distorting the view beyond the hot object. what is that effect called?
2007-06-29 08:03:39 · 7 answers · asked by norbert 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
specifically, this effect: http://sleightofhand.smugmug.com/photos/163699136-L.jpg
2007-06-29 08:35:01 · update #1
It actually arises due to the non-uniform index of refraction of the air. The index of refraction of all materials has a slight dependence on the temperature of that object. Hence when your BBQ gives off some heat into the air, it obviously heats up that air, changing it's index of refraction, which causes light rays that pass through that air to be bent, thus distorting your view of anything behind the hot air. Because the heat distribution through the air is not uniform throughout, the index of refraction isn't either and hence that's why you see ripples.
I guess that's WHY it happens...not sure if it has a name. Hope you've learned something though!
Edit: Hotter air is less dense, and so the dude above me is also correct.
2007-06-29 08:11:41 · answer #1 · answered by Mikey C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are seeing is the heat changing the density of the air. When air changes density, its index of refraction changes. Any time you have two materials with different indices of refraction, you have the potential to bend light at the interface (the way a lens does). So, you have this uneven turbulent mix of denser air and less dense air that bends light all over the place. You see this as the objects behind the hot air being distorted.
2007-06-29 08:09:30 · answer #2 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Schlieren effect.
2007-06-29 08:07:10 · answer #3 · answered by trojanknight_96 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
heat distortion. It is cause because the hot air rising is less dense than the air above it, and as it mixes it refracts light differently than air normaly would.
2007-06-29 08:07:50 · answer #4 · answered by Patrick H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is called a mirage, specifically an "inferior" mirage. Inferior refers to the fact that we normally look down to see it, in contrast to "superior" mirages, which occur when warm air is above colder air. See "Color and Light in Nature" by Lynch and Livingston for further explanation and lots of great pictures.
2007-06-29 08:11:53 · answer #5 · answered by pegminer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mirage?
2007-06-29 08:10:30 · answer #6 · answered by 4evaluvmuzic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
infrared (heat) distortion of visible light spectrum.
2007-06-29 08:17:25 · answer #7 · answered by james p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
inferior mirage
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirage
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~scdiroff/lds/LightOptics/HotRoadMirage/HotRoadMirage.html
2007-06-29 08:20:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋