Question

1. (a) What is scattering of light ? Explain how the
colour of the scattered light depends on the size
of the scattering particles.
(b) Explain the reddish appearance of the Sun at
sunrise or sunset. Why does it not appear red at
noon? ​

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) - The colour of the scattered light depends on the size of the scattering particles. If the size of the particles is very fine, they scatter mainly light of shorter wavelength or blue light. If the size of particles is larger, they scatter light of longer wavelength (light of red and orange colour).

(b)- The reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise or sunset is due to scattering of light by the molecules of air and other fine particles in the atmosphere have size smaller than the wavelength of visible light from the sun near the horizon.

Hope it will help you.