Scattering and Geometric Optics Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What happens to a beam of light as it undergoes scattering in the atmosphere?

It only reflects off surfaces

It gains energy

It is attenuated as energy is removed (correct)

It changes direction without losing energy

What term is used to describe the process where a particle scatters light only once in all directions?

Reflective scattering

Single scattering (correct)

Multiple scattering

Secondary scattering

Which factor does NOT affect light scattering by particles?

Particle color (correct)

Particle size

Particle shape

Wavelength of radiation

In what condition does scattering prevail in the solar spectrum?

At cloud-free conditions Signup and view all the answers

How is light defined when it bounces off a surface at an equal angle to which it strikes?

Reflected light Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to as multiple scattering?

Light scattering multiple times between different particles Signup and view all the answers

Which size parameter signifies that a particle is large enough compared to the wavelength of light allowing geometric optics to be applied?

𝜒 ≥ 50 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following particles would result in scattering at the largest size?

Large raindrops (10^4 𝜇𝑚) Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main forces acting on a vibrating electron in a system?

Acceleration force, damping force, and restoring force Signup and view all the answers

In a parallel-plate condenser, which factors influence the electric field experienced by an individual molecule of the dielectric?

Charges on condenser plates, surface charge on dielectric, and surrounding charges Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the imaginary part of the refractive index in the solar spectrum?

It relates to the absorption of solar radiation by air molecules Signup and view all the answers

How does the refractive index of atmospheric particles vary?

It comprises a real part and an imaginary part that vary with wavelength Signup and view all the answers

What happens to white light when it encounters atmospheric molecules?

It is dispersed into its component colors like a prism Signup and view all the answers

Which type of force is responsible for carrying energy away when vibrating electrons emit electromagnetic waves?

Damping force Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the refractive index of air molecules is generally very close to 1?

Real part Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting the electric field around a molecule in a dielectric?

The distance of the molecule from the earth's core Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the scattered intensity of sunlight and the distance from the molecule to the observation point?

Inversely proportional to the distance Signup and view all the answers

Which parameter defines the scattering intensity when unpolarized sunlight is incident on a molecule?

Scattering angle Signup and view all the answers

In the case of horizontally polarized light, how does the scattered intensity depend on the scattering angle?

Proportional to $ ext{cos}^2 heta$ Signup and view all the answers

What component is included in the phase function for Rayleigh scattering?

$1 + ext{cos}^2 heta$ Signup and view all the answers

What condition is true for scattering of sunlight by molecules according to Rayleigh scattering?

Scattering is isotropic for vertically polarized light Signup and view all the answers

How does the angular distribution of the scattered intensity compare to the phase function?

Directly proportional Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the intensity of unpolarized sunlight as it scatters off a molecule?

It is proportional to the intensity of the incident light and the phase function Signup and view all the answers

According to the definition of the phase function, what must the integral equal?

One Signup and view all the answers

What does the real part of the refractive index relate to in the context of scattering?

It can be approximated when $m_r$ is close to 1. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scattering cross section formula relating to?

The intensity of scattered light from air molecules. Signup and view all the answers

How does the optical depth relate to wavelengths of light?

It quantifies the attenuation power of molecules with respect to light wavelengths. Signup and view all the answers

Which color of light scatters the most according to Rayleigh scattering theory?

Blue light as it has a shorter wavelength. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the correction factor $f(δ)$ play in scattering?

It corrects for the anisotropy of the scattering medium. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the sky appear blue when viewed away from the sun?

Because blue light scatters more intensely compared to other colors. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the color of the sky as one moves upward into outer space?

It gradually darkens to black away from the sun. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the intensity of scattered light is true?

Intensity is inversely dependent on the wavelength raised to the fourth power. Signup and view all the answers

What primarily contributes to the solar heating rate below about 10 km altitude?

Water vapor absorption Signup and view all the answers

How does the solar heating rate change with altitude?

It decreases exponentially with altitude. Signup and view all the answers

What effect do aerosols have on solar heating rates in the lower atmosphere?

They increase solar heating rates. Signup and view all the answers

At what altitude does the solar heating rate reach its minimum?

At 15 km Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the solar heating rate as the cosine of the solar zenith angle (μ0) decreases?

The solar heating rate decreases. Signup and view all the answers

Which gases are primarily considered in calculating solar flux and heating rate?

H2O, O3, and CO2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for dividing the solar spectrum into subspectral intervals?

To account for atmospheric transmission variations Signup and view all the answers

How does the presence of clouds affect solar heating and net flux?

They can both enhance and diminish solar heating rates. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Atmospheric Scattering

Scattering is a fundamental physical process that removes energy from a beam of light.
It occurs when light interacts with matter, like air molecules, aerosols, hydrometeors, and raindrops.
Scattering redirects light in all directions, affecting light intensity and color.
Single scattering occurs when light is scattered once, while multiple scattering happens when it's scattered multiple times by different particles.

Geometric Optics

Geometric optics explains how light interacts with large particles compared to its wavelength.
Rayleigh scattering, a type of scattering by molecules, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the point of observation.
The intensity of scattered light also depends on the polarizability, wavelength, and scattering angle.
The phase function describes the angular distribution of scattered light, and for Rayleigh scattering, it's proportional to (1 + cos2Θ).

Scattering by Air Molecules

Air molecules scatter blue light more intensely than red light due to the 1/λ4 dependence of intensity on wavelength.
This scattering causes the sky to appear blue as blue light is scattered more and reaches our eyes from all directions.
The sun appears whiter at higher altitudes because blue light is scattered away during its longer path through the atmosphere.

Solar Heating Rate

The solar heating rate is the rate at which the atmosphere is heated by the sun.
Water vapor is the primary contributor to solar heating in the lower atmosphere (below 10 km).
Ozone is the primary contributor to solar heating in the upper atmosphere (above 20 km).
Aerosols can increase solar heating in the lower atmosphere by absorbing visible and near-infrared radiation.

Effects of Clouds

Clouds can significantly impact solar heating and net flux profiles.
Cirrostratus (Cs) and stratus (St) clouds can absorb and scatter solar radiation, leading to changes in the heating rate and flux.
The location and thickness of clouds influence their effect on solar radiation.

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Description

Test your knowledge on atmospheric scattering and geometric optics. This quiz covers key concepts such as single and multiple scattering, as well as the effects of light interaction with various particles. Dive into the science of light behavior and its implications in our atmosphere.