2007-01-26 22:31:57 · 10 answers · asked by James H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The sky is blue because the gas molecules in the atmosphere absorb much of the shorter wavelength light
2007-01-26 22:40:48 · answer #1 · answered by thelittle_angel1327 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its due to Rayleigh scattering - certainly not because its reflecting the ocean which people sometimes say! Rayleigh scattering involved the scattering of light by particles smaller than the wavelength of light. It has a smaller effect on colours with longer wavelengths and that is why the sky is blue - and also in fact why the sun is yellow - if you added up all the blue tint in the sky and focused it in the area of sun you would get its actual colour of bright white.
Physicists used to say that Rayleigh diffraction was responsible for the reddish tint in sunrise and sunset because the light had to travel through more atmosphere to reach us however this is currently disputed and there is another optical theorem at work called 'Lorenz-Mie theory'. Kind regards.
2007-01-27 10:08:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diffuse sky radiation is solar radiation reaching the earth's surface after having been scattered from the direct solar beam by molecules or suspensoids in the atmosphere. Also called skylight, diffuse skylight, or sky radiation. Of the total light removed from the direct solar beam by scattering in the atmosphere (approximately 25 percent of the incident radiation), about two-thirds ultimately reaches the earth as diffuse sky radiation.
Scattering is the process by which small particles suspended in a medium of a different index of refraction redirect a portion of the incident radiation in all directions. In elastic scattering, no energy transformation results, only a change in the spatial distribution of the radiation. The science of optics usually uses the term to refer to the deflection of photons that occurs when they are absorbed and re-emitted by atoms or molecules.
2007-01-27 06:41:13 · answer #3 · answered by Issues of Mass Distruction ! 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
THe sky colour is blue because it reflects the ocean's colour. THe light is made up of different colous the water droplets absorb all colour and only reflect blu colour. Therefore the colour of the sky is blue
2007-01-27 06:44:58 · answer #4 · answered by indian_hunk_no1 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is because of the refractive index of the earths atmosphere. The white light coming from the sun, splits according to the refractive index of the medium through which it travels, and in our case, we get blue light, and therefore, blue sky. great huh? :-)
2007-01-27 06:42:25 · answer #5 · answered by john c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because of light refraction, absorbing all the other colours leaving only blue visible.
See:
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/sky_blue.html
2007-01-27 06:41:40 · answer #6 · answered by sally s 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's the shade of color that the human eye depicts based on light and molecules. Why are we able to see the moon with the naked eye? It's not emitting light but reflecting sunlight from our perspective.
2007-01-27 09:27:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
colour is special
accept it as such
enjoy it as such
chill and worry when it is not blue
2007-01-27 06:36:35 · answer #8 · answered by JAYFIRE 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont think we will ever know that,its the same as,why is the grass green,very interesting question.
2007-01-27 06:38:19 · answer #9 · answered by LYNDA M 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
where i'm looking its gray
2007-01-27 06:36:40 · answer #10 · answered by styce 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋