Mirage

Prof. Ruo Peng WANG

School of Physics
Peking University
Beijing 100871
P.R.China

rpwang@pku.edu.cn
rpwang@cis.pku.edu.cn
 Mirage

The refractive index of the air varies with temperature. Cold air is denser than warm air and
has therefore a greater refractive index. Thus a temperature gradient in the atmosphere is
always associated with a gradient of the refractive index. Under certain conditions, this
gradient of the refractive index could be strong enough so that light rays are bent to produce a
displaced image of distant objects. This amazing phenomenon is called as “mirage”.
Mirages can be categorized as "inferior" and "superior". Inferior mirages can be seen on
deserts and highways, and superior mirages occur over the sea.

Fig. 1a A superior mirage Fig. 1b An inferior mirage

To describe in detail the phenomenon of the mirage, we need to analyze the path of light rays
in media with a refractive index gradient.

1 The path of a light ray and the trajectory of a mass point

Media with a refractive index gradient can be treated as being formed from thin
homogeneous layers with different refractive indexes. The path of a light ray can be
determined then by analyzing refractions of the light ray at interfaces between these thin
homogeneous layers. But there exists a more convenient way for determining the path of a
light ray in media with a refractive index gradient. Instead of analyzing the propagation of the
light, one may study the motion of a mass point that moves along the path of the light ray,
driven by a conservative force. The potential energy of the conservative force field depends
on the distribution the refractive index. Once the potential energy is established, one may
study the motion of the mass point by using well developed tools in classical mechanics, and
find the trajectory of a mass point which is also the path of the light ray.

1.1 Refraction of a light ray at the interface between a medium with a refractive index

n1 and a medium with a refractive index n2 is shown in Fig. 2a. The angles i1

and i2 obey the Snell’s law

n1 sin i1  n2 sin i2
1
 The path of a mass point in a conservative force field is illustrated in Fig.2b. The

speed of the mass point is v1 in the region with the potential energy E p1 , and v2

in the region with the potential energy E p 2 . Find expressions for v1 and v2 so

that the relation n1 sin i1  n2 sin i2 held also for the trajectory of the mass point.

You may use an arbitrary constant v0 with the dimension of speed in your

expressions. (0.2 point)

Fig. 2a Refraction of a light ray Fig. 2b Deviation of a mass point in a

conservative force field

1.2 Assume that the mass of the mass point is m , and the total energy of the mass point

equals to 0 . Find the potential energies E p1 and E p 2 . (0.2 point)

1.3 The trajectory of a mass point with a mass m in a conservative force field is same as

the path of a light ray in a medium with a refractive index n(r ) which is a function

of the position. The total energy of this mass point is zero. Find expressions for the
potential energy E p (r ) of the conservative force field and the speed of the mass

point v(r ) . (0.4 point)

1.4 To describe the motion of a mass point, one expresses the position of the mass point

as a function of time: r (t ) . To describe the trajectory of a mass point, one needs to

express the position of the mass point as a function of the distance s traveled by the

2
 mass point from the start point of the trajectory to the current position: r ( s) .

Derive a differential equation for the trajectory r ( s) of a mass point with a mass

m and a total energy E that moves in a conservative force field. (0.6 point)

Hint: in a conservative force field, r (t ) satisfies Newton’s second law:

d 2r ds
m 2
 E p , and  v( r )
dt dt

1.5 Derive the light ray equation (a differential equation for the path of a light ray) by
using the results obtained in 1.3 and 1.4. (0.6 point)

Hint: f (r )  2 f (r )f (r )
2

2 The inferior mirage

When an inferior mirage appears, an image of a distant object can be seen under the real
object. A direct image of that object is seen also because some of the light rays that enter the
eye in a straight line without being refracted. The double image seems to be that of the object
and its upside-down reflection in water. For exhausted travelers in the desert it seems like that
there is a lake of water in their front.
An inferior mirage occurs when a strong positive gradient of refractive index is present near
the ground. We use the following model to describe the variation of the refractive index of the
air with elevation:
n02   z for h  z  0
n ( z)   2
2

 n0   h for z  h

with n02  1 1 and  h 1.

2.1 Find the path of a light ray (i.e. z as a function of x ) that enters in an observer’s
eye at an angle  (see Fig. 3). The height of the observer’s eye is H .
(1.9 point)

Fig.3 The geometry for analyzing

3
an inferior mirage
 2.2 Due to the inferior mirage, the observer can see an inverted image of the upper part
of a camel at a large distance. The parameters for the refractive index of the air are

  3.0 105 m1 , h  0.50m . The height of the observer’s eye is H  1.5m ,

and the height of the camel is l  2.2m . Find the minim value for the distance Dm

between the observer and the camel. You use the approximation n02  1.

(0.7 point)
2.3 As a result of the light refraction in the region with refractive index gradient, the
observer cannot see the lower part of the camel’s legs. Find the height of the lowest

point on the camel that can be seen by the observer lm . (0.7 point)

2.4 Find the distance between the observer and the imaginary lake of water d .
(0.3 point)

3 The superior mirage

When a superior mirage occurs, light rays that were originally directed above the line of sight
will reach the observer’s eye. Thus, an object ordinarily below the horizon will be apparently
above the horizon.
A superior mirage occurs when a negative gradient of refractive index is present over a body
of water or over large sheets of ice. We use the following model to describe the refractive
index of the atmosphere (see Fig. 4):
n02 [1   (r  r0 )] for b  (r  r0 )  0
n (r )   2
2

 n0 (1   b) for (r  r0 )  b

where r0 is the radius of the earth, b r0 and  b 1. .

Fig.4 The geometry for analyzing

4
a superior mirage
3.1 Find the path of a light ray (i.e. r as a function of  ) within the range

b  (r  r0 )  0 . Use the angle between the light ray and the vertical direction 

at the sea level as a parameter of the path. (1.4 point)

Hint: The trajectory of a mass point with a mass point with a mass m , an angular
momentum L and a total energy E in a conservative force field with
mA
Ep    E0
r
is


r
1   cos 
where

L2 2( E  E0 ) L2
 ,   1 
m2 A m3 A2
We have also
1 1 r  r0
  2 if r  r0 r0
r r0 r0

3.2 Find the minim value  m of  at which the superior mirage occurs. Use the

following values for n0 and r0 : n0  1 , r0  6.4 106 m . (0.8 point)

3.3 Under certain atmospheric condition, b  100m and   6.0 107 m1 .

Calculate the largest distance DM at which the surface of the sea can be seen by an

observer at an altitude y  10m . (n.b.: y is the altitude of the observer’s eye)

(1.4 point)

3.4 For a comparison, calculate the largest distance DM at which the surface of the sea

can be seen by an observer at the same altitude y  10m , when the refractive index

of the air is constant . (0.3 point)

3.5 Calculate the angular difference  between the apparent horizon when a
superior mirage occurs as described in 3.3 and the apparent horizon in a normal day

as described in 3.4 , seen at the same altitude y  10m . (0.5 point)

5
Useful formula:
1
cos   1   2 for  1.
2

6
 ANSWER SHEET

1 The path of a light ray and the trajectory of a mass point

1.1 v1  0.2

v2 

1.2 E p1  0.2

Ep2 

1.3 v( r )  0.4

E p (r ) 

1.4 0.6

1.5 0.6

2 The inferior mirage

1.9
2.1

0.7
2.2
Dm 

0.7
2.3
lm 

7
 0.3
2.4 d

3 The superior mirage

1.4
3.1

0.8
3.2
m 

1.4
3.3
DM 

0.3
3.4
DM 

0.5
3.5  

8
Solution

1 The path of a light ray and the trajectory of a mass point

1.1 The component of the conservative force parallel to the interface is null, thus

v1 sin i1  v2 sin i2
This relation becomes

n1 sin i1  n2 sin i2
if

v1  n1v0 and v2  n2v0 (0.2 point)

1 1 1 1
1.2 E p1  0  mv12   mn12v02 and E p 2  0  mv22   mn22v02 (0.2 point)
2 2 2 2

1.3 v(r )  n(r )v0 (0.2 point)

and
1 1
E p (r )  0  mv 2 (r )   mn 2 (r )v02 (0.2 point)
2 2

d ds d d d 2r d  dr 
1.4   v , thus  v v  . (0.2 point)
dt dt ds ds dt 2
ds  ds 
The equation for the trajectory is

d  dr  E  Ep
mv  v   E p with v  (0.4 point)
ds  ds  2m

d  dr  d  dr   1 2 2
1.5 mv  v   E p becomes mnv0  nv0      mn v0 
ds  ds  ds  ds   2 
(0.2 point)

 1  d  dr  2 d  dr 
But    mn 2v02   mv02 nn and mnv0  nv0   mnv0  n 
 2  ds  ds  ds  ds 
Therefore

d  dr 
 n   n (0.4 point)
ds  ds 

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2 The inferior mirage

2.1 The path of light ray is a straight line for z  h.

Thus

z  H  x tan  for x  x1 (0.2 point)

with

x1  ( H  h) cot  (0.1 point)

For x2  x  x1 , the corresponding potential energy is

1 1
E p ( z )   mv02 n02  mv02 z (0.2 point)
2 2
The equation of motion of the corresponding mass point is then

 d 2z 1 2
m dt 2  2 mv0 
 2
(0.2 point)
 md x 0
 dt 2
With the initial condition

dx dz
 n(h)v0 cos  and  n(h)v0 sin  (0.2 point)
dt t 0 dt t 0
So we have

 1 2 2
 z  v0  t  n(h)v0t sin   h
 4 (0.2 point)
 x  n(h)v0t cos   x1
By eliminating t in above equations, we obtain


z ( x  x1 )2  x tan   H (0.2 point)
4n (h) cos 2 
2

10
This expression can also be written as
2
  2n2 (h) cos  sin   n 2 (h)sin 2 
z 2  x  ( H  h ) cot     h
4n (h) cos 2     

This path may reach in the region with x  x2 if

n2 (h)sin 2 
 h0

or

h
sin   (0.2 point)
n( h)

The value of x2 can determined by the following condition

2
  2n2 (h) cos  sin   n 2 (h)sin 2 
h 2  2
x  ( H  h ) cot     h
4n (h) cos 2     
We find

4n2 (h) cos  sin 

x2  ( H  h) cot   (0.1 point)

We also have
dz
tan     tan  (0.1 point)
dx x  x2

Then we have for x  x2

z  ( x  x2 ) tan   h (0.2 point)

We can express the path of light ray as

 H  x tan 
 for x  x1
  n (h) sin 
2
  1 2 2
z 2  x  ( x  x2 
)  h for x2  x  x1
 4n (h) cos  
1
 
2
2
for x  x2
 ( x  x2 ) tan   h

with

x1  ( H  h) cot 
and

4n2 (h) cos  sin 

x2  ( H  h) cot  


11
 2.2 Let xc be the coordinate of the camel. To see the inverted image of the upper part

of a camel we must have

l   xc  x2  tan   h (0.1 point)

and

h
sin   (0.1 point)
n( h)

Substituting the expression for x2 we find

4n2 (h) cos  sin 

xc  ( H  l  2h) cot   (0.2 point)


For small  , xc decreases with  , so xc is minim for

 h 
   M  arcsin  3
  3.87 10 rad
 n( h) 
Thus
4n 2 (h) cos  M sin  M
Dm  ( H  l  2h) cot  M 

H  l  2h h
 4
h  (0.3 point)
H  l  2h

h
 1.21103 m

2.3 Let zc be the height of a point on the camel. If the observer can see this point, then

we must have


zc  ( Dm  x1 )2  Dm tan   H (0.1 point)
4n (h) cos 
2 2

with    M . As    M 1, so cos   1. We also have n(h)  1 and

H h
tan   (0.1 point)
x1

Dm  x1
Let y  , we have then
Dm

12
  H h
zc  Dm2 y 2  H
4 1 y

dzc
To find to minim of zc we need to calculate the derivative
dy

dzc  2 H h
 Dm y  (0.1 point)
1  y 
2
dy 2

The condition for minim zc is then

2  H  h 0.0455
y 
D  1  y  1  y 
2 2 2
m

This equation can be solved numerically. Let y1  0.0455 and

0.0455
yn 1 
1  yn 
2

We found
n 1 2 3 4 5

yn 0.0455 0.0499 0.0504 0.0505 0.0505

Thus zc reaches minim at ym  0.0505

 H h
lm  Dm2 ym2   H  0.475m (0.4 point)
4 1  ym

2.4 If a refracted light ray enters the observer’s eye at the angle  , the observer will
consider the ray being reflected from a water surface at a distance equal to H cot  . The
minim value of this distance is the distance between the observer and the “lake”. Thus

H
d  H cot  M   386m (0.3 point)
h

3 The superior mirage

3.1 For b  (r  r0 )  0

1 1
E p (r )   mv02 n02  mv02 n02  (r  r0 )
2 2
(0.1 point)
mA
  E0
r
13
with
1
A  v02 n02 r02  (0.2 point)
2
and
mA 1 2 2
E0   mv0 n0 (0.2 point)
r0 2

The angular momentum equals to

L  mv0 n0 r0 sin  (0.2 point)

And the total energy E  0 . Thus the path is given by


r (0.1 point)
1   cos 
with

2
 sin 2  (0.3 point)

and

  1  4 2 r02 (r0   1)sin 2  (0.3 point)

rm 
Light ray

b
Earth r0

r


3.2 Let rm be the maxim value of r . When the superior mirage occurs, we have

rm  r0  b . The angular momentum is constant

L  mv0 n0 r0 sin   mv0 n(rm )rm (0.2 point)

Thus

14
 n0 r0  n0 r0 sin   n(rm )rm
That implies

r02
 1   (rm  r0 )
rm2
But

r02 2(r  r )
2
 1 m 0
rm r0
So we must have
2
 (0.4 point)
r0

Therefore
2
m   3.1107 m1 (0.2 point)
r0

3.3 The maxim distance DM is given by the maxim values of 1 and 2

DM  r0 (1M  2 M ) (0.1 point)

According to expression for

the path of light ray, we
have
rm 
 y
r0  (0.1 point)
1   cos 2
r0

r0  y 
1   cos 1

(0.1 point) 1 2
and

rm  (0.1 point)
1 
From above relations, we obtain

1   1   1  
cos 1  1   , cos 2  1   and 1  1  
  r0  y    r0    rm 
By eliminating  we find

15
 1
   
cos 2  1  1  
 r0  rm 
1
     
 1    1  
 r0 rm  r0 
1
 
 1  (rm  r0 ) 1  
r02  r0 
Thus

2  (rm  r0 ) 4(rm  r0 )sin 2  rm  r0

2   2
r0 (r0   ) r0 (  r0  2sin  )
2
r0 (  r0  2)
and

b
2 M  2 (0.4 point)
r0 (  r0  2)
Similarly

rm  r0  y
1  2
r0 (  r0  2)
and

b y
1M  2 (0.4 point)
r0 (  r0  2)
Therefore
DM  r0 (1M  2 M )
r0 (b  y ) r0b
2 2 (0.2 point)
 r0  2  r0  2
 7.3 104 m

DM
3.4 y

 DM   r02   r0  y 
2 2

Thus

DM   r0  y   r02  2r0 y  1.1104 m

2

r0
(0.3 point)

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3.5 we have

  1  2 1
2 b
where y DM
DM 2y
2   (0.1 point)
r0 r0
and r0

(r0  y)n(r0  y) cos 1  (r0  b)n(r0  b) 2

Thus
1 b y
cos 1  1  (  r0  2)
2 r0

So

b y
1  (  r0  2) (0.3 point)
r0
Therefore
b y 2y
  (  r0  2) 
r0 r0
 6.9 103 rad (0.1 point)
 0.40

17