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Reflections of water viewed from airplane
Sometimes when you look out the airplane window, you see bright flashes of light from the ground, caused by swimming pools, rivers, and puddles. The places where the flashes occur seem to move along with the airplane. What are the conditions (time of day, direction you are looking) that lead to this effect?
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No best answer has yet been selected by mbernhar. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I seem to remember from my schooldays (a long time ago now!) that, for reflected light, the angle of incidence = the angle of reflection.
Consequently, if the angle between your eyes looking out of the aircraft window and the surface of a swimming pool, river etc below equals the angle between the sun and the pool, river etc, then you will see a reflection of the sun. This reflection will appear to flash because the aircraft is moving.
Consequently, if the angle between your eyes looking out of the aircraft window and the surface of a swimming pool, river etc below equals the angle between the sun and the pool, river etc, then you will see a reflection of the sun. This reflection will appear to flash because the aircraft is moving.
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