Setting Sun

Sometimes things arent located where we think they are. Consider the setting sun. If the earth had no
atmosphere, sunlight would not bend as it approached the earth. The real story is more interesting. Assume
light enters the atmosphere at 90.00
o
, measuring form the normal of course. Find the angle
2
that the beam
refracts with toward the ground. The index of refraction for vacuum is 1.0000, and the index of refraction
for air is 1.00029. Sketch it! Hint: Light from the setting sun comes in tangent to the earths atmosphere



























By how much did the incoming beam deflect?



What does your answer mean? Can you still see the sun after it has technically set below the horizon?





How much extra sun-time do you get? The sun appears to move at a rate of about 1
o
per 4 minutes.