Final answer:
A mirage is created by thermal variations that cause light to bend and not by fog; sudden penetration of fog cannot create a mirage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The illusion that can be created by sudden penetration of fog is referred to as a mirage. When discussing mirages, it's important to understand phenomena like total internal reflection. Mirages are commonly observed in conditions where there’s a drastic temperature gradient in the air, such as above hot sand or asphalt, which causes the refractive index of air to vary with temperature. This variation leads to the bending of light rays, creating the illusion of a water pool that doesn't exist. The process is a bit complex, but fundamentally, it is the changing refractive index due to temperature differences that gives rise to mirages. Therefore, from the options provided, the main answer is that sudden penetration of fog can not create a mirage. Instead, fog may scatter light and reduce visibility, but it doesn't produce the thermal variations required to bend light as a mirage does.In conclusion, the phenomenon associated with a mirage is distinct from the effects of fog.