Question

When light from the sun interacts with the earth's atmosphere, it scatters in such a way so as to produce a pattern that varies over the sky. Some animals (not humans) can detect this pattern and employ it as a navigational aid. This pattern most directly involves a property of light called:

1) Reflection
2) Refraction
3) Diffraction
4) Polarization

Answer 1

The correct property of light involved in the navigational pattern used by some animals is polarization. Light becomes polarized when it scatters upon interacting with the Earth's atmosphere, which can be detected by certain animals for navigation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pattern of light described that is used by certain animals for navigation most directly involves the property of light called polarization. When light from the sun interacts with the Earth's atmosphere, it encounters molecules and small particles which cause the light waves to scatter. This scattering results in light being polarized, a phenomenon where the waves of light are oscillated in particular directions. Some animals are sensitive to this polarization pattern in the sky and use it to orient themselves.

It is important not to confuse polarization with other properties of light such as reflection, refraction, or diffraction, which all behave differently. Reflection involves light bouncing off a surface, and refraction involves light bending as it passes through different mediums. Diffraction is the bending and spreading of light waves around obstacles. However, as described in the question, polarization specifically is the key to these animals' navigational aid, where certain orientations of light's electric field are absorbed or transmitted, creating a distinct pattern in the sky.