Warping light, sound, and time?

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 21:32.

mirage on rail road track warp visible light air temperature differential

Why do small differentials in air temperature warp visible light?  Index of refraction.   

An earlier post on Realneo wondered whether an invisibility cloak could be made from wire - the air temperature differential around the wires on the corn crib causes a visual moire effect.

Wouldn't the air temperature differential also warp sound?

What about time?

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