What is meant by scattering of light

Light (10)

What is meant by scattering of light ? Use this phenomenon to explain why the clear sky appears blue or the sun appears reddish at sunrise.

Answer

  1. Scattering - Phenomenon of spreading of light (diffused reflected light) caused by minute particles (dust, smoke etc.) in the atmosphere. 
  2. Sky appears blue because blue color of sunlight scatters more strongly (due to shorter wavelength) than the red color by the fine particles in the air.

OR

At sunrise the blue color of sunlight get scattered due to smaller wave length while passing through the thicker layers of the
atmosphere. The red component (due to longer wavelength) reaches us, giving red appearance, of the Sun.

Exam Year: 2015