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Prasun-rick
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Light from the sun takes about 8 mins to reach the earth. But does the time get delayed appreciably due to Earth's atmosphere??
Thanks in advance !
Thanks in advance !
Does Atmosphere Dilation Affect Sunlight Travel Time? | Explained
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In summary, the time it takes for light from the sun to reach the earth is about 8 minutes. The Earth's atmosphere, specifically the troposphere, is only 7 miles thick and contains 80% of the atmosphere's mass. This distance is negligible compared to the 90 million miles light has to travel, and the refractive index of air is close to 1, so there is no significant delay in light's speed through the atmosphere.
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Bystander
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Prasun-rick
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Can you please elaborate it ?? Thanks btw!Bystander said:
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Drakkith
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The densest portion of the atmosphere, the troposphere, is roughly 7 miles thick and contains 80% of its mass. Seven miles is an utterly tiny distance compared to the 90 million miles light has to travel to get from the Sun to the Earth, so any slowing effect would have to be extreme in order to have an appreciable effect. However, the refractive index of air is very close to 1, so light's speed through air is still more than 99% of its speed through the vacuum of space. Long story short, there's no significant delay caused by the atmosphere.
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Prasun-rick
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Thanks perfectly clear to me now !1. What is atmosphere dilation?
Atmosphere dilation, also known as atmospheric refraction, is the bending of light as it passes through Earth's atmosphere. This occurs because the speed of light is slower in air than in a vacuum, causing the light to change direction as it moves through different layers of the atmosphere.
2. How does atmosphere dilation affect sunlight travel time?
Atmosphere dilation can affect the travel time of sunlight because it causes the light to take a longer and more curved path as it travels through the atmosphere. This can result in a delay of a few minutes in the time it takes for sunlight to reach Earth's surface.
3. Does atmosphere dilation affect all types of light?
Yes, atmosphere dilation affects all types of light, including visible light, infrared, and ultraviolet light. This is because all forms of light travel at different speeds in air than in a vacuum, and therefore experience refraction as they pass through the atmosphere.
4. Can atmosphere dilation cause a significant change in the travel time of sunlight?
No, the effect of atmosphere dilation on the travel time of sunlight is relatively small and only causes a delay of a few minutes. This is because the density of Earth's atmosphere is relatively consistent and the amount of refraction that occurs is not significant enough to cause a significant change in the travel time of sunlight.
5. Are there any other factors besides atmosphere dilation that can affect the travel time of sunlight?
Yes, there are other factors that can affect the travel time of sunlight, such as the tilt of Earth's axis, the distance between Earth and the sun, and the speed of Earth's rotation. These factors can cause variations in the amount of time it takes for sunlight to reach Earth's surface, but they do not directly influence the effect of atmosphere dilation on sunlight travel time.
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