how does different colors in the sky work? I just realized I didn't know this morning when it was all pink near the sun and clouds. thanks!
2007-03-26 11:00:05 · 2 answers · asked by honeym 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
The sky's colour is the result of sunlight being scattered by particles in the atmosphere.
It works like this: light travels in waves. Different colours have different wavelengths - Red is the longest we can see, through blue to indigo. Normally, when the sunlight hits the atmosphere, the shorter red wavelengths can pass through, but the longer blue ones get scattered by the dust and gases all through the sky - kind of like light being reflected off a disco ball all over the place!. So that's why the sky seems blue during the day. However at certain times of the day, such as sunrise and sunset, the sunlight has to pass through more air before you see it. So even more of the longer blue wavelengths get scattered away, and very few get to your eyes, but you're still getting lots of the red and orange wavelengths through. That's why you get red and pink sunrises and sunsets. Hope that helps!
2007-03-26 11:47:29 · answer #1 · answered by jess_purplemonkey 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The colour in the sky is caused by scattering of light. Pink is likely to happen at sun rise or sunset when most of the blue light has already been scattered as it travelled through the atmosphere (this is why the sky is blue during the day).
2007-03-27 06:44:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
usually a pink sky results from harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere for agricultural purposes.
2007-03-26 11:03:34 · answer #3 · answered by Kelzoo 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋