Does anyone no why the sunset looks red?

Answer 1

Good question and here is the scietific answer. Scattering of incoming short wave solar radiation is called Rayleigh scattering. It is inversely proportional to the 4th power of the wavelength. Therefore the shorter the wavelength the greater the scattering. Now as the sun is setting the incoming solar short wave radiation is depleted of its blue (shortest wavelength) light by Rayleigh scattering by having to travel the longest distance between its entrance into the atmosphere and your eye. Therefore only the longer wavelengths in the solar light beam remain. And they are orange and red, which explains the reason for red sunsets.

Answer 2

Sunlight consists of all the colours of the spectrum, each different colour is different wavelength of light.

The molecules and atoms in the atmosphere allow some wavelengths to pass through unimpeded but others get deflected.

The more atmosphere the sunlight passes through the more light is deflected. At sunset the sun is low on the horizon and the sunlight strikes the atmosphere at an oblique angle and has to pass through a lot of atmosphere, this deflects a lot of light. The light that does get through is what we see as red light.

It's this same reason that makes the sky appear blue, the difference is that the sunlight passes through less atmosphere when it's overhead so there's less scattering of the light.

If it were possible to see beyond the horizon we'd see green sunsets. Occasionally this does happen, a type of mirage causing what's called a Green Flash. Some pictures here... http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/observing/artifacts.html

For more about why sunsets are red and the sky is blue look up Rayleigh Scattering and Mie Theory...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_scattering
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/redsun.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mie_theory

Answer 3

Different colors appear to us in the sky due to "Rayleigh scattering" is the scattering of light, or other electromagnetic radiation, by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the light. It occurs when light travels in transparent solids and liquids, but is most prominently seen in gases.

Answer 4

I heard before the color of the sunset enables us to determine the temperture for the following day the redder it is the hooter it will be .

Answer 5

just burn some hard-coal and see the same effect after some time........the burning yellow looking sun is actually a red ball of fire