2007-01-31 06:48:58 · 22 answers · asked by clarke 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
The Sun has a spectral class of G2V. "G2" means that it has a surface temperature of approximately 5,500 K, giving it a white color, which, because of atmospheric scattering, appears yellow. This is a subtractive effect, as the preferential scattering of blue photons (that 'color' the sky) removes enough blue light to leave a residual reddishness that is perceived as yellow.
2007-01-31 06:59:38 · answer #1 · answered by Dantheman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a really good question, and the answer is that the sun isn't yellow. It is white. The light from the sun is exactly the same colour as the clouds we see in the sky.
But for some reason that is not clear, people think the sun is yellow. I know nobody is going to believe this answer, but it is the truth.
2007-01-31 15:00:23 · answer #2 · answered by Gnomon 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The sun is actually many colors, just look at the spectrum from a prism.
It mostly appears white or yellow (on a clear day) due to our eyes (some say due to evolution).
2007-01-31 15:02:11 · answer #3 · answered by Jim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun is not yellow, or what you know as white would look yellow in sunlight. White cars, clouds, the moon, white house, white piece of paper......those would all appear yellow in sunlight.
There IS a yellowish cast to sunlight at dawn/dusk due to scattering of the light through the atmosphere, as previously mentioned.
2007-01-31 17:59:51 · answer #4 · answered by BobBobBob 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The sun has an effective surface temperature of 5780 K, making it's colour spectrum centred at 560 nm. That is, technically, green.
But on the yellow side of green.
We are just so exposed to it, that we don't see the green-ness.
2007-01-31 15:01:51 · answer #5 · answered by Che jrw 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's color is based not only on it's chemical composition, but also on it's temperature and type. Our sun is a typical "yellow" star. Others can be white dwarf, red giant, etc.
2007-01-31 14:58:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Technically, the sun is white, which is a combination of all the colors of the (visible) spectrum.
2007-01-31 15:08:48 · answer #7 · answered by Surveyor 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's actually RED...but we see it as Yellow
2007-01-31 14:59:31 · answer #8 · answered by RUNINTLKT 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's chemical composition, but mostly, the stage of development, it's size, and temperature.
2007-01-31 14:59:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it is just the way that the Earth's atmosphere projects the light into our eyes. It's the same thing as "Why is the Sky Blue??"
2007-01-31 14:58:20 · answer #10 · answered by So-Cal Girly 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋