JEE Main2015PhysicsWave OpticsActual
On a hot summer night, the refractive index of air is the smallest near the ground and increases with a height from the ground. When a light beam is directed horizontally, the Huygens' principle leads us to conclude that as it travels, the light beam,
Options
- Abends upward.
- Bbecomes narrower.
- Cgoes horizontally without any deflection.
- Dbends downward.
Correct answer
A. bends upward.
Step-by-step solution
Every point on the horizontal ray of light behaves as a source of light. Thus, the secondary rays which are directed towards denser medium would bend towards the normal. These phenomena cause the bending of the rays upwards.