INDIRECT RAYS Meaning and
Definition
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Indirect rays refer to the sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface at an oblique angle, rather than directly overhead. This occurs when the Sun's rays have a longer path to travel through the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in a greater scattering and absorption of light. As a result, indirect rays have a lower intensity and are perceived as less bright compared to direct rays.
Indirect rays occur when the Sun is positioned low on the horizon, such as during sunrise, sunset, or at high latitudes during certain times of the year. During these periods, the Earth's curvature causes the sunlight to be deflected, resulting in a more oblique angle of incidence. This causes the light to traverse a greater distance through the atmosphere, resulting in increased dispersion and attenuation.
Due to the longer path, indirect rays undergo significant scattering, causing shorter wavelengths (blue and green) to be scattered more than longer wavelengths (red and yellow). This results in a change in color perception, as the indirect rays tend to appear more reddish or yellowish compared to the direct rays, which appear bluish.
Indirect rays also contribute to the phenomenon of diffuse light, where sunlight is scattered and reflected by various particles and surfaces before reaching the observer. This diffused light gives a soft, even illumination, often casting less distinct shadows compared to direct light.
In summary, indirect rays are the less intense, oblique sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface due to scattering and absorption, resulting in altered color perception and diffused illumination.
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X-rays generated at the surface of the glass of the tube.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for INDIRECT RAYS
- undirect rays
- jndirect rays
- kndirect rays
- ondirect rays
- 9ndirect rays
- 8ndirect rays
- ibdirect rays
- imdirect rays
- ijdirect rays
- ihdirect rays
- insirect rays
- inxirect rays
- incirect rays
- infirect rays
- inrirect rays
- ineirect rays
- indurect rays
- indjrect rays
- indkrect rays
- indorect rays
Etymology of INDIRECT RAYS
The word "indirect" originates from the Latin word "indirectus", which is a combination of the prefix "in-" (meaning "not" or "without") and "directus" (meaning "straight" or "direct").
The term "rays" comes from the Old French word "raie", meaning "line" or "ray". It ultimately traces back to the Latin word "radius", which also means "ray" or "stripe".
So, when combined, the term "indirect rays" refers to rays that are not straight or directly aimed at a target. It is commonly used to describe the sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface after being scattered or reflected.
