TIL about caustic in optics

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/Caustic_Shallow_Water.webm/Caustic_Shallow_Water.webm.1080p.vp9.webm

this is a very cool physics phenomenon. i just became aware of this.

when light falls through a rippled surface, such as waves on the water, the light rays get refracted in different directions.

if these rays then meet, they make a very bright area. which is what we can see in the video, at the sea floor.


here's some more pics:

77 points · 2 comments · view on lemmy.world

2 Comments

MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works · 22 pts · 1d

This very succinctly explained how they work. I understood them beforehand but not truly the how of it, thanks

LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 11 pts · 1d

I just came to say the video was very calming and beautiful, I had no idea this post was about physics lol

I also love the heffalump-fish!