A. Because the rays (which fall at various degrees of obliquity on the water) are reflected at similar angles; but as only those which meet the eye of the spectator are visible, all the sea will appear dark but that one spot.
Here of the rays SA, SB, and SC, only the ray SC meets the eye of the spectator D.
The spot C, therefore, will appear luminous to the spectator D, but no other spot of the water ABC.
Q. At night the moon seems to be reflected from only one spot of a lake of water, while all the rest seems dark,—Why is this?
A. Because the rays (which fall at various degrees of obliquity on the lake) are reflected at similar angles; but as only those which enter the eye of the spectator will be visible, all the water will appear dark but that one spot. (See last figure.)
Q. Why are more stars visible from a mountain, than from a plain?
A. As the air absorbs and diminishes light, the higher we ascend, the less light will be absorbed.
Q. Why does the sun seem larger at his rise and set, than it does at noon?