Some Applications of Scattering - 1

The sun looks red during the sunrise or sunset.

It happens due to the scattering of light.

Scattering is the phenomena of light in which the light gets scattered (changes its direction) when it interacts with atmospheric particles.

The small size particles are responsible for scattering the shorter wavelength of light.

Now, the different types of particles are present in the atmosphere.

So, the different particles can scatter the different type of wavelength of light.

Due to which, there are several applications of scattering.

Let's discuss the applications of scattering.

There are many applications of the scattering of light.

For example, the sun looks reddish at the sunrise and sunset, blue color of sky, white color of cloud.

Now, we will discuss one by one.

The colour of the sun appears reddish at the sunrise and sunset.

Due to the scattering of light, the sun appears reddish at the sunrise and sunset.

Because, when the sun is near the horizon, then, the distance traveled by the sunlight is larger.

Means, the sunlight passes the thicker layer of the atmospheric particles before reaching our eyes.

Due to which, most of the shorter wavelengths are scattered away by the particles of the atmosphere.

Hence, only the longer wavelength of light is reached to our eyes, like, red.

That's why the sun appears reddish at the sunset or sunrise.

This also the reason to use the red light as a danger signal.

Beacuse, the danger signal must be visible from a far away.

And the red color is having a longer wavelength, it can't be scattered by the air molecules.

Due to which, it is visible from the far distance.

Now, we will discuss another application.

The color of the sky appears blue during a clear cloudless day.

The scattering of light causes the blue color of the sky.

The air contains a more percentage of nitrogen and oxygen, which molecules are smaller in size.

So, these molecules are responsible for the scattering of the shorter wavelength, like, blue and violet color.

But, our eyes are more sensitive about the blue color.

Due to which, the sky appears blue during a clear cloudless day.

Hence, suppose if the earth has no atmosphere, then, there will be no scattering.

Then, the sky will look dark (black).

As it looks by the passengers flying at the high altitude.

Because, the amount of scattering is less at a high altitude.

Now, another application of the scattering is cloud appears white color.

Let's discuss the color of the cloud appears white.

The scattering of light is responsible for the white color of the cloud.

Because, the diameter of the cloud droplets is sufficient to scatter the all visible wavelength.

Hence, almost all visible wavelength of light is scattered, when they enter the clouds.

Due to which, the cloud appears white.

These are some applications of scattering of light.

Revision

There are several applications of scattering of light.

As the sun looks reddish at sunset and sunrise.

The sky appears blue during the day time and clouds appear white.

Without the atmosphere, the sky will look black.

The End