2007-03-05 11:24:40 · 7 answers · asked by Nguyen Thanh Hai 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Rayleigh scattering: Scattering agents smaller than
about 1/10 of the wavelength of incoming radiation
disperse radiation in a manner known as Rayleigh’s
scattering. Individual gas molecules in the
atmosphere preform it. It is particularly effective for
visible light, especially those colors with shortest
wavelengths. So, blue light is more effectively
scattered by air molecules than is larger-wavelength
red light. Furthermore, Rayleigh scattering disperse
radiation both forward and backwards combined
with its greater effectiveness in scattering shorter
wavelengths, this characteristics leads to three
interesting phenomena: the blue sky on a clear day,
the blue tint of the atmosphere when viewed from
space, and the redness of sunrises and sunsets. Only
1/10 of that directed radiation is scattered via this
way.
2007-03-05 11:35:48 · answer #1 · answered by mk 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When one looks at the sky, rather than seeing the black of space, one sees light from Rayleigh scattering off the air. Because Rayleigh scattering is proportional to the inverse fourth power of wavelength, this light contains more blue (short wavelength) light than green or red, giving the sky a blue appearance.
2007-03-05 20:56:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
This is a good question. First of all visible radiation arriving from the sun is scattered by air molecules, blue through red. Here is the difference. Rayleigh scattering says that scattering is inversely proportion to the fourth power of the wavelength. This means of course that the shorter the wavelength (blue in the case of visible radiation), the greater will be the scattering, if and only if there is no scattering from suspended dust in the atmosphere. This latter type of scattering is referred to as Mie (pronounced me) scattering. I hope this helps you
2007-03-05 19:33:38 · answer #3 · answered by 1ofSelby's 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i believe that it has to do with how light reflects off of the atmosphere. When the sky is blue, the sun's light is hitting straight on, but when the sun is setting and it is skimming the atmosphere at a more extreme angles, you get the pinks and oranges and then it gets closer and closer to clear skies again.
2007-03-05 19:34:00 · answer #4 · answered by satirev 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The sky is blue because that is the color of the visible light in the spectrum that is refracted by our atmosphere back to earth.
2007-03-05 19:32:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think its as simple as the majority of the earth is water and it reflects BLUE
2007-03-06 03:23:53 · answer #6 · answered by jjjpaco72 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
see this link...fascinating!
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question39.htm
2007-03-05 19:41:19 · answer #7 · answered by Sabine 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋