Question

When you are travelling by a car on a misty day the path is not visible. Explain.​

Answer 1

Mist = Tiny water droplets that suspend in air. It acts like a colloid.

We cannot see clearly through mist because:

• Light is scattered by the tiny water droplets in all directions. This is called Tyndall Effect.

• Tyndall Effect is the phenomenon by which: Particles of a colloid scatter the beam of light that is directed towards them.

• Generally, Light rays enter and exit a particle in a straight line. But in colloids or suspensions, the particles suspending obstruct this rectilinear propagation of light and make the incident beam to get scattered in all possible directions.

• The amount of scattering depends upon the Density of suspended particles and Frequency of light ray.

This reduces visibility.