Question

Blue wavelengths of sunlight are preferentially scattered by gas molecules in the atmosphere to give the sky its color. This is an example of ______ scattering.

a) Rayleigh scattering
b) Mie scattering
c) Tyndall scattering
d) Raman scattering

Answer 1

Rayleigh scattering is the type of scattering responsible for the blue color of the sky.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scattering of blue wavelengths of sunlight is an example of Rayleigh scattering. This phenomenon occurs when gas molecules in the atmosphere scatter shorter wavelengths of light more efficiently than longer wavelengths. In the case of sunlight, the blue colors scatter more efficiently than the greens, yellows, and reds, resulting in the blue color of the sky.