Did you know that the sky is blue because of the same effect of a prism or rainbow?

Question

Yeah, the size of the molecules in the atmosphere is what scatters the blue part of the visible spectrum of light. We're looking at the affects of a prism.

Answer 1

although it is not technically correct I can see that the analogy of a prism is a good one for the lay person. It is something that they have experience with and can identify with. if you start talking about Rayleigh scattering their eyes glaze over.

please note that the submitter did mention that it was the size of the molecules that caused the scattering. And it is WAY better to have people understand a bit of how it works rather than have them think it is the reflection of the oceans or other stupid thing.

you could also note that some refraction of light in the atmosphere does occur around sunrise and sunset.

All in all I am happy to see one person who is excited about something most other people take for granted. I hope this leads to more learning and more exploring of other topics.

never stop learning!

Answer 2

I hope no one else "knows" this, because it's wrong! Scattering is a random process that sprays light in all directions. Prisms and rainbows work by diffraction, bending light a precise amount depending on its wavelength. These are two totally different processes.

Answer 3

I have to disagree. A prism is totally different and doesn't necessarily promote molecules. Oxygen is the reason the sky is blue and it's not molecules, but atoms that make the sky blue./

Answer 4

NO!!! No way!
It is due to Rayleigh Scattering, not because of refractions.

Answer 5

Noway rainbows r formed due to dissociation of lite but sky is not due to this reason.................

Answer 6

I thought it was due to nitrogen.

Answer 7

Indeed.