A Similar Concept |
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Water in
the air freezes in different shapes
depending on the atmospheric temperature.
From 0° C to -4° C (32° F to
25° F), and -10° C to -20° C
(14° F to -4° F), water particles
in the air tend to form plate-shaped
planar crystals.
 http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/eyes/pillars.htm
Crystals
that form with dimensions smaller than
15-20 micrometers tend to fall
erratically, but larger plates tend to act
in a fashion similar to leaves, floating
parallel to the ground.
|
 http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060305.html
|
 http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/eyes/pillars.htm |
As the plate
crystals float, light is reflected by their
long surfaces. If the crystals are arranged
correctly over a powerful enough light
source, an observer will see these
reflections collectively, forming a spur of
light rising into the atmosphere. Different crystal sizes, light sources, and atmospheric conditions cause a variety of reflection signatures, from thin, tall pillars to wide pillars extending below and above the Sun low on the horizon. Works Cited |
By Ross MacDougall
Physics 104
Spring 2012
University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Effects of Gravity on Falling Objects