The blue colour of the sky is due to the fact that:a)Red light is pref...
Understanding the Blue Colour of the Sky
The blue colour of the sky is primarily due to a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering. Here’s a detailed explanation:
What is Rayleigh Scattering?
- Rayleigh scattering occurs when sunlight interacts with molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Sunlight, or white light, is composed of multiple colours, each with different wavelengths.
Why is Blue Light Scattered More?
- Blue light has a shorter wavelength compared to other colours like red or yellow.
- When sunlight passes through the atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths (blue) are scattered in all directions more effectively than longer wavelengths (red).
Resulting Effect on the Sky's Colour
- Since blue light is scattered more than other colours, it is the predominant colour that we see when we look up at the sky.
- This scattering causes the direct sunlight to appear less blue and the sky itself to appear predominantly blue.
Conclusion
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question about why the sky is blue is option 'C': blue light is preferentially scattered.
- This concept is fundamental in understanding atmospheric optics and the appearance of the natural environment.
By grasping this principle, one can appreciate the beauty of our sky and the science behind its captivating colour.
The blue colour of the sky is due to the fact that:a)Red light is pref...
Blue light is scattered in all directions by the tiny Molecules of air in Earth's atmosphere. Blue is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why we see a blue sky most of the time.