2007-03-02 04:23:30 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
To put it in simple terms: it's the only color not absorbed by the atmosphere.
2007-03-02 04:31:47 · answer #1 · answered by pickersmurf 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air.
However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.
2007-03-02 12:27:36 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer P 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some people will answer this by talking about "reflection" or "scattering".
But that is really "how" the sky is blue, not why.
"Why" anything is the way it is, is a question for philosophy, not science. The answer I like is, "because if the universe was different in a way that the sky was NOT blue, then we would not be here to ask the question."
2007-03-02 12:38:19 · answer #3 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The sun's rays hit the Earth's atmosphere, where the light is scattered by nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air. The blue wavelength of this light is affected more than the red and green wavelengths, causing the surrounding air to appear blue. At sunset, the sun's light passes farther through the atmosphere, deflecting and decreasing the blue in the air. Scattering by dust particles and pollution in the air causes the sunset to appear red.
2007-03-02 12:29:00 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When the sun's light ( which is white light) shines down through the atomsphere, all the colors of light are absorbed except the blue which is reflected to our eyes... thats why the sky is blue... and at sunset and sunrise, there is more atomsphere for the light to go through and thats why there are pinks and reds and purples at those times!
2007-03-02 12:29:19 · answer #5 · answered by Tara M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because of the gasses in the sky
2007-03-02 12:32:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sunlight is reflected by the ocean/water into the sky as blue color.
2007-03-02 12:30:35 · answer #7 · answered by mostly_forfun 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Try this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky#Sky_luminance_and_colors
2007-03-02 12:26:40 · answer #8 · answered by Xiomy 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's because of the sunlight. It reflects various things that can give other things a colour.
2007-03-02 12:26:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sorry, I accidently spilled some blue paint...
2007-03-02 12:25:53 · answer #10 · answered by Cartman 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋