Optical Phenomenon by: Brandi Durrence 4th period

In my research project with Cody Wilson, we created a powerpoint over Optical Phenomenon. Optical phenomenon is a physical phenomenon relating to or involving light. In this presentation we covered four types of optical phenomenons. These four types are; the Tyndall effect, Aurora lights, Mirages, and Rainbows. The Tyndall effect, is the scattering of light through a colloid. The longer the wavelength, the light is transmitted. The shorter the wavelength, the light is reflected or scattered. This effect can be seen when light particles are scattered by particles in the medium the beam is passing through. Aurora Lights, is a natural light effect caused by the colliding of particles in the thermosphere. There is two sets or aurora lights. The northern lights properly known as Aurora Borealis, and the southern lights known as Aurora Australis. This occurrence usually happens nearest to the planet's magnetic poles. There are two types of auroras diffuse and discrete. Diffuse is usually not visible to the naked eye defines the extent of the auroral zone. Discrete unlike its name is very visible and very bright! Mirage, A displacement of an object caused by light rays bending. Light rays bend to follow the cooler air.There are two types of mirages, Superior and Inferior. Superior mirages, occur when the air near the ground is cooler than the air above. Inferior mirages, occur when the air near the ground is warmer than the air above. Superior mirages make the object appear below or closer than it really is. Inferior mirages make the object appear above or further away than it really is.

Rainbows, are a natural light effect caused by light rays bending and dispersing through a water droplet. They are also arched due to the bending and dispersing of light rays. Rainbows are really full circles, but unless you are in a plane, you can only see half. Rainbows are an illusion they can not be touched. As light travels through water it changes speed and direction when this happens it creates the color spectrum. There are four types of rainbows; Primary, Secondary, Moonbow, Fogbow. The primary rainbow is the ordinary rainbow one would see. Secondary occurs when water droplets reflect light twice. (Most people who see the secondary rainbow think of double rainbows.) The Moonbow this is a very rare occurrence. but it is created the same way as a normal rainbow. Just substitute the moon for the sun. In the fog the water droplets are much smaller. So in a fogbow the colors are not very visible.

Bibliography http://www.thefreedictionary.com/optical+phenomenon ~exact deffinition http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Optical_phenomenon.ht ml ~Tyndall effect, Auroa lights,Mirages, Rainbows http://makezine.com/laboratory-18-colloids-and-suspensi/ ~Tyndall Image http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9269571/Spectaculardisplays-of-the-northern-lights-or-aurora-borealis-in-northernNorway.html~picture of aroua borealis. http://books.google.com/books?id=6vyBnb9gQMC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=tyndall+effect+experiment&source=bl&ots= 68KkQYvLpU&sig=54_ve7RhEe0P4R6rPGDsq6Wwhb8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=bDplU qfJNILs8wT7loC4AQ&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=tyndall%20effect%20 experiment&f=true ~Tyndall experiment. http://www.astronomycafe.net/weird/lights/mirgal.htm ~Superior mirage picture http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2011/03/winter-road-surface-inferior-mirage.html ~ Inferior mirage picture http://www.squidoo.com/rainbow-science ~rainbow picture, Information. http://blog.richmond.edu/geog250/2012/02/05/auroras-how-they-work-and-howto-see-one/ ~Aurora Austarlias picture.