Question

When particles scattering light are much smaller than its wavelength, the amount of scattering is proportional to 1/λ. Does this mean there is more scattering for small λ than large λ? How does this relate to the fact that the sky is blue?

a. Yes, there is more scattering for small λ.
b. No, there is more scattering for large λ.
c. Scattering is independent of λ.
d. The scattering is not related to the color of the sky.

Answer 1

There is more light scattering for smaller wavelengths, which explains why the sky appears blue due to the efficient scattering of blue light by atmospheric molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

When particles scattering light are much smaller than its wavelength, the level of scattering is indeed inversely proportional to the wavelength (λ). This means there is more scattering for smaller wavelengths (λ) than there is for larger wavelengths. The shorter the wavelength, the more it is scattered.

This principle is directly related to why the sky appears blue. The molecules in Earth's atmosphere scatter shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) more efficiently than the longer wavelengths (red, yellow, green). This selective scattering causes the sky to take on a blue color during the day. When the sun is high in the sky, it looks a bit yellower because some of the blue light has been scattered away and is not present in the direct sunlight reaching an observer's eye.