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Which phenomenon is responsible for twinkling of stars?
  • a)
    Scattering of light
  • b)
    Dispersion of light
  • c)
    Total Internal reflection
  • d)
    Atmospheric refraction
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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The phenomenon responsible for the twinkling of stars is atmospheric refraction.

Atmospheric refraction is the bending of light rays as they pass through the Earth's atmosphere. This phenomenon occurs due to the variation in the refractive index of air with respect to altitude. The atmosphere is composed of layers of air with different densities and temperatures, which causes the light to bend and change direction.

Explanation of atmospheric refraction:

- When light from a star enters the Earth's atmosphere, it encounters the different layers of air. Each layer has a slightly different density and refractive index, causing the light to bend at different angles.

- The bending of light rays is more pronounced when the star is closer to the horizon because the light has to pass through a thicker layer of the atmosphere compared to when the star is directly overhead.

- The bending of light rays causes the apparent position of the star to change slightly, leading to the twinkling effect. As the light passes through different layers of air, it gets continuously refracted, resulting in the star appearing to flicker and change in brightness.

- The twinkling of stars is more noticeable for stars that are far away and have a smaller apparent size. This is because the light from distant stars has to pass through a larger portion of the atmosphere, experiencing more refraction, compared to closer objects like planets or the Moon.

- The twinkling effect is also responsible for the different colors observed in stars. The bending of light causes the different colors of the light spectrum to separate, similar to how a prism disperses light. This dispersion can cause stars to appear to have different colors as they twinkle.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the twinkling of stars is caused by atmospheric refraction. The bending of light rays as they pass through the Earth's atmosphere leads to the apparent change in position, brightness, and color of stars. This phenomenon is more pronounced when stars are closer to the horizon and when they are far away.
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Which phenomenon is responsible for twinkling of stars?a)Scattering of lightb)Dispersion of lightc)Total Internal reflectiond)Atmospheric refractionCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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