5 Questions
Why does the sky appear blue during midday?
Blue light is scattered more due to its shorter waves
What happens to sunlight as it reaches Earth's atmosphere?
It is scattered in all directions by molecules
Why are sunsets red, orange, and pink in color?
Red and yellow light are scattered less at lower sun angles
What role do molecule sizes play in the scattering of sunlight?
Smaller molecules scatter blue light more effectively
How does the thickness of the atmosphere affect the colors we see during sunset?
Thinner atmosphere scatters more red light during sunset
Study Notes
Why the Sky is Blue
- At midday, the sky appears blue because of the way light behaves in the Earth's atmosphere
- White light from the sun is made up of all the colors of the rainbow
- When this light reaches the Earth's atmosphere, it is scattered in all directions by molecules
- Blue light is scattered more than other colors because it travels in shorter waves
Why Sunsets are Red, Orange, and Pink
- As the sun is lower in the sky, light has to pass through more of the atmosphere to reach your eyes
- The increased scattering of blue light allows red and yellow light to dominate, making the sun appear red, orange, and pink
- The atmosphere is thicker closer to the Earth, which enhances the scattering effect
Test your knowledge on why the sky appears blue during midday and why sunsets display red, orange, and pink colors. Learn about how light from the sun is scattered in the Earth's atmosphere and why certain colors are more visible during different times of the day.
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