Physics
Physics
Problem
The setting sun appears higher in the sky than it really is. [1980]Intuitive explanation
Atmospheric refraction bends light rays as they pass through layers of air with different densities—denser near Earth's surface, thinner higher up. When sunlight enters this gradient at a shallow angle near the horizon, it curves upward toward the normal, making the sun's image appear higher than its true geometric position. The key is recognizing that we see where the light ray points, not where the object actually is, so any bending between source and eye shifts the apparent location.
Intuitive explanation
Atmospheric refraction bends light rays as they pass through layers of air with different densities—denser near Earth's surface, thinner higher up. When sunlight enters this gradient at a shallow angle near the horizon, it curves upward toward the normal, making the sun's image appear higher than its true geometric position. The key is recognizing that we see where the light ray points, not where the object actually is, so any bending between source and eye shifts the apparent location.