KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA, IIT CAMPUS, CHENNAI – 36

CLASS : X ONLINE CLASS NOTES DATE: 7/7/20

LN: 4 – HUMAN EYE AND COLOURFUL WORLD: Key points – 3

Difference between deviation and deflection:

Light is deflected as it enters a material with refractive index > 1. A ray of light is
deflected twice in a prism. The sum of these deflections is the deviation angle. When
the entrance and exit angles are equal, the deviation angle of a ray passing through
a prism will be minimal.

V. ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION: The refraction of light by the Earth’s

atmosphere is known as atmospheric refraction. The earth’s atmosphere is not evenly
distributed and is optically denser at the bottom while is rarer at the top. The velocity
of light changes from layer to layer. The molecules of different gases and dust particles
have different optical densities.
Eg: Flickering / wavering view above the car bonnet ( Hot air rises up from radiator).
 The hotter air is lighter( less dense & less refractive index) than the cooler air.
 Physical condition of refracting medium ( atmospheric air) is not stationary.
1.TWINKLING OF STARS:
 It is happening due to atmospheric refraction of starlight.
 Starlight, on entering the atmosphere, it undergoes refraction continuously (
changes the refractive index) so atmospheric air bends starlight towards normal.
 The apparent position is slightly higher than the actual position when we
viewed near the horizon.
 The path of light rays coming from the star goes on varying slightly, which
fluctuates the amount of light entering the eye ( sometimes brighter, sometimes
fainter) – twinkling effect of stars.