Final answer:
The different colors in the sky are caused by the dispersion of light by the Earth's atmosphere. This scattering of light is known as Rayleigh scattering.
Step-by-step explanation:
The different colors that appear in the sky are caused by the dispersion of light by the Earth's atmosphere. When sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, it interacts with the gas molecules and particles. The gas molecules in the atmosphere scatter the sunlight, causing the different colors to separate. This scattering of light is known as Rayleigh scattering.
The amount of scattering and the colors that are observed depend on the wavelength of light. Shorter wavelengths, such as blues and purples, are scattered more than longer wavelengths, like reds and yellows. As a result, we see a mixture of colors in the sky, ranging from blue to red during a sunrise or sunset.
In addition to Rayleigh scattering, other atmospheric phenomena such as clouds and pollutants can also affect the colors observed in the sky.
Learn more about Colors in the sky