Question

The smoke from a fire looks white.
Which of the following statements is true?

1. Molecules of the smoke are bigger than the wavelength of light.

2. Molecules of smoke are smaller than the wavelength of light.

Answer 1

Option 1 because wavelength is big no scattering of light done

Answer 2

The answer is Option 1.

The statement Molecules of the smoke are bigger than the wavelength of light is true. This is why the smoke from the fire looks white. It scatters light from white light of all wavelengths to the same extent. Through the scattering process, light energy is absorbed and re-emitted.