Flerfraction: Difference between revisions
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== Atmospheric "Magnification" == | == Atmospheric "Magnification" == | ||
Many flerfs claim the atmosphere can magnify things like a [[Wikipedia:Magnifying glass|magnifying glass]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tflhWwoqWAw&t=460s</ref> This is partly because they think the term "'''atmospheric lensing'''" (which generally means the same thing as '''atmospheric refraction''') literally means the atmosphere acts like a [[Wikipedia:Lens#Construction of simple lenses#Types of simple lenses|bioconvex lens]]. Flerfs use this to explain why objects can appear obstructed by the horizon. | Many flerfs claim the atmosphere can magnify things like a [[Wikipedia:Magnifying glass|magnifying glass]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tflhWwoqWAw&t=460s</ref> This is partly because they think the term "'''atmospheric lensing'''" (which generally means the same thing as '''atmospheric refraction''') literally means the atmosphere acts like a [[Wikipedia:Lens#Construction of simple lenses#Types of simple lenses|bioconvex lens]]. Flerfs use this to explain why objects can appear obstructed by the horizon. | ||
[[File:Karen Nyberg water bubble.jpeg|thumb|A spherical water bubble causes astronaut [[Wikipedia:Karen Nyberg|Karen Nyberg]]'s face to appear upside-down]] | |||
In reality, there is no mechanism by which the atmosphere can act this way. Because gravity causes air pressure (which is [[Ideal Gas Law|closely correlated to air density]]) to change as a function of height<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure#mechanism</ref>, objects can only appear to be compressed (or stretched in [https://aty.sdsu.edu/mirages/mirsims/loom/loom.html#towering rare cases]) in the vertical direction. Some flerfs propose the mechanism for atmospheric "magnification" is water droplets in the air. While a singular water droplet can act like a lens, flerfs don't realise that a collection of many water droplets does not equal one big lens. There is also the issue that a round water droplet causes the refracted image to appear upside-down. | In reality, there is no mechanism by which the atmosphere can act this way. Because gravity causes air pressure (which is [[Ideal Gas Law|closely correlated to air density]]) to change as a function of height<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure#mechanism</ref>, objects can only appear to be compressed (or stretched in [https://aty.sdsu.edu/mirages/mirsims/loom/loom.html#towering rare cases]) in the vertical direction. Some flerfs propose the mechanism for atmospheric "magnification" is water droplets in the air. While a singular water droplet can act like a lens, flerfs don't realise that a collection of many water droplets does not equal one big lens. There is also the issue that a round water droplet causes the refracted image to appear upside-down. | ||
Revision as of 00:28, 27 April 2026
Atmospheric Refraction is the bending of light within Earth's atmosphere due to variations in air density.[1] Flerfs generally have no clue how atmospheric refraction actually works, so they use it (flerfraction) to explain phenomena which are actually impossible on a flat Earth, such as:
- sunsets/rises and moonsets/rises
- why stars can't be seen from particular locations (e.g. Polaris from the southern hemisphere)
- why objects beyond the horizon are obstructed
- why the horizon appears below eye level
- the existence of the south celestial pole
- why the sun and moon do not change in angular size
- star trails always being perfectly circular
Not all flerfs use flerfraction to explain the above phenomena; those who don't generally invoke flerfspective.
Flerfs often deny the presence of refraction when presenting observations of "missing curvature", while simultaneously using it to explain observations that are impossible on flat Earth. This is an example of the Third Law of Flerf.
Atmospheric "Magnification"
Many flerfs claim the atmosphere can magnify things like a magnifying glass.[2] This is partly because they think the term "atmospheric lensing" (which generally means the same thing as atmospheric refraction) literally means the atmosphere acts like a bioconvex lens. Flerfs use this to explain why objects can appear obstructed by the horizon.
In reality, there is no mechanism by which the atmosphere can act this way. Because gravity causes air pressure (which is closely correlated to air density) to change as a function of height[3], objects can only appear to be compressed (or stretched in rare cases) in the vertical direction. Some flerfs propose the mechanism for atmospheric "magnification" is water droplets in the air. While a singular water droplet can act like a lens, flerfs don't realise that a collection of many water droplets does not equal one big lens. There is also the issue that a round water droplet causes the refracted image to appear upside-down.
Walter Bislin's Flat Earth Dome Model
Flerfs have plagiarised Walter Bislin's Flat Earth Dome Model, claiming it is a working model of flat Earth. In reality, the simulation shows how light would need to bend in impossible ways for flat Earth to make any sense. Flerfs that subscribe to this model believe the light bending is made possible due to flerfraction and/or some firmament-related magic.
Useful Resources
| Resource | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stellarium | See developers | Astronomy software which factors in standard atmospheric refraction when calculating the apparent position of astronomical objects. |
| Simulation of Atmospheric Refraction | Walter Bislin | Comprehensive calculator for terrestrial refraction. Shows a visual comparison between globe Earth and flat Earth predictions. |
| Advanced Earth Curvature Calculator | Walter Bislin | Comprehensive calculator for earth curvature, with the option to factor in atmospheric refraction. |
| Metabunk Refraction Simulator | Mick West | See how temperature profile affects refraction in the atmosphere. |