Misconceptions

Misconception

A view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding.

Why is the sky blue?

Misconception:The sky is blue because the blue of the ocean is reflected back up into the sky.

But……if the sky were blue due to reflection from the oceans, wouldn't the sky be less blue farther inland? It isn't, so this cannot be the correct explanation.

Why is the Sky Blue?Light from the sun looks white but is

really made up of all colors of the rainbow.

Light from the sun passes through the earth’s atmosphere much like light through a prism.

Blue light waves are shorter than red light waves.

All light travels in a straight line unless something gets in the way

to-

1.Reflect it – like a mirror

2.Bend it – like a prism

3.Scatter it – like the molecules of gases in the atmosphere (nitrogen and oxygen)

Sunlight reaches Earth's atmosphere and is scattered in all directions by all the gases and particles in the air

Blue is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why we see a blue sky most of the time.

Red and green light wave go straight through and are not scattered in the air due to the longer length of the wave.

The Coriolis Effect

Misconception:The water in a sink (or toilet) rotates one way as it drains in the northern hemisphere and the other way in the southern hemisphere.

Called the Coriolis Effect, it is caused by the rotation of the Earth. 

Coriolis EffectThe truth is that only

very large systems, such as ocean currents and weather systems are

affected by the Coriolis effect.

As far as the toilet goes, it’s all about the shape of the plumbing!

Standing an Egg On Its EndMisconception:• You can only balance an egg on end during the spring equinox….

• People think this might have to do with how the planet aligns with the sun and moon making for “special gravitational conditions”

Eggs balance on end any time if you are patient and steady handed. Gravitational pull is no different during an equinox than at any other time of the year.

An equinox just means you have equal hours of day and night

A Change of SeasonsMisconception: The seasons change because as we go around the sun, the oval shape of our orbit brings us closer to the sun in summer, and farther away in the winter

In summer we tilt into the sun making the sun light hit at a direct angle and making it hotter. In winter we tilt away so the light spreads out and is less intense making it colder.

Moon Illusion

Misconception:The Moon appears larger at the horizon than it does high in the sky.

Moon IllusionActually, it is closer to us when it

is overhead….but our brain doesn’t believe that.

Our brain thinks of the sky as a dome and it interprets the horizon as being closer to us than the top of the dome.

The moon looks bigger on the horizon because it appear close to us and things are closer to us look bigger

Other Common MisconceptionsPeople are NOT limited to

using only 10% of their brains.◦You use your whole brain, but not all

neurons are actively firing at all times. You also don’t press every key on the keyboard all at once when typing. Sorry for ruining the entire basis for both Limitless and Inception.

 Other Common Misconceptions

Hair and nails do NOT keep growing after a person dies

The reason mummies have long nails and hair is because the skin has receded, revealing more of what was below the surface.

Other Common MisconceptionsSwallowed chewing gum does NOT stay in your system for years.

It cannot be digested, but it still passes through the digestive tract the same as all other matter.