Question

a) What is meant by scattering of light?


(b) Explain why the planets do not twinkle​

Answer 1

Answer:

Scattering of light is the phenomenon in which light rays get deviated from its straight path on striking an obstacle like dust or gas molecules, water vapours etc. ... The colors we see in the sky are due to scattering of light.

Planets appear larger to human eyes as compared to stars because they are closer. As the angle subtended by the planets at the human eye is more, the shift in their position(as compared to stars) is smaller. Since, the shift is smaller, they do not twinkle.

Answer 2

1. When a beam of light interacts with a particle of matter it is redirected in many different directions. This phenomenon is called scattering of light
2. Planets appear larger to human eyes as compared to stars because they are closer. As the angle subtended by the planets at the human eye is more, the shift in their position(as compared to stars) is smaller. Since, the shift is smaller, they do not twinkle.