Question

Difference between rayleigh scattering and raman scattering

Answer 1

Rayleigh scattering is elastic while Raman is inelastic scattering. If a photon is absorbed and emitted without changing the atom or molecule's state, like a pool ball bouncing off a fixed pool ball, that would

Answer 2

If a photon is absorbed and emitted without changing the atom or molecule's state, like a pool ball bouncing off a fixed pool ball, that would be Rayleigh scattering.  The pool ball leaves at the same speed but opposite direction.

A pool ball hitting a bowl of jello and knocking it over would be Raman scattering, the state of the scatterer has been changed, and the pool ball would leave rolling slower as the knocked over jello has absorbed some of the energy.