Why does Sun appear slightly oval shaped at morning and evening ?a)The rays of light from upper edge of the sun have to pass maximum thickness.b)Due to unequal bending of light.c)The rays of light from the lower edges of Sun are refracted more.d)All the above.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

At sunrise and sunset, the Sun is near the horizon. Horizon means the line where the Earth and Sky appear to meet.The rays of light from the upper part and lower part of the periphery of the Sun bend unequally on travelling through earth's atmosphere. That is why, the Sun appears Oval at the time of sunrise and sunset. So, Option d is correct.

Answer

*It is due to the refraction of sunlight ,as it travels through Earth's atmosphere. ... Refraction of light by these layers can make the sun appear flattened or distorted. Objects closer to the horizon are raised upwards most and the lower limb of the Sun is raised more than the top making it appear oval.

Answer

Explanation:
The Sun appears slightly oval shaped at morning and evening due to a phenomenon called atmospheric refraction. Atmospheric refraction is the bending of light as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere. This bending occurs because the density of the atmosphere decreases as we move away from the surface of the Earth towards higher altitudes.

Unequal Bending of Light:
When the Sun is near the horizon during mornings or evenings, its light has to pass through a larger portion of the Earth's atmosphere compared to when it is directly overhead. This means that the rays of light from the Sun have to pass through a greater thickness of the atmosphere near the horizon. As a result, the Sun's light undergoes greater bending or refraction near the horizon, compared to when it is directly overhead.

Refracted Rays from Lower Edges:
The rays of light from the lower edges of the Sun are refracted more because they have to pass through a larger portion of the Earth's atmosphere. This is because the lower edge of the Sun is closer to the horizon. The bending of these rays is more pronounced, causing the lower part of the Sun to appear higher in the sky than it actually is. This leads to the oval appearance of the Sun during mornings and evenings.

Rays of Light from Upper Edge:
Similarly, the rays of light from the upper edge of the Sun also undergo refraction, but to a lesser extent. This is because the upper edge of the Sun is further away from the horizon and passes through a smaller portion of the Earth's atmosphere. The bending of these rays is less pronounced compared to the lower edge, causing the upper part of the Sun to appear lower in the sky than it actually is.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the oval shape of the Sun during mornings and evenings is a result of atmospheric refraction. The unequal bending of light, with the lower rays refracted more than the upper rays, causes the Sun to appear slightly elongated or oval-shaped.

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