Mirages, floating images that appear in the distance,
are due to the refraction of light in the Earth’s
atmosphere.
– if light goes from layers with higher n to layers with lower -->
total refraction: - mirages, looming
• On hot days, a hot layer of air is in contact with the
ground with cooler air above it
• Light travels faster in the hot air
• This increase in speed causes a bending of the light
rays
• The image appears upside down to the observer