What is the time difference between the actual sunset and apparent sunset ?
[amp_mcq option1=”About half a minute” option2=”About one minute” option3=”About two minutes” option4=”About twenty minutes” correct=”option3″]
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2022
The time difference between actual sunset and apparent sunset is caused by atmospheric refraction. Sunlight bends as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere because the density of the atmosphere increases towards the Earth’s surface.
This refraction causes the sun’s rays to bend downwards, making the sun appear higher in the sky than its actual position. Near the horizon, this effect is most pronounced. As a result, the sun appears to rise earlier in the morning (apparent sunrise before actual sunrise) and set later in the evening (apparent sunset after actual sunset).