2007-04-04 08:30:41 · 8 answers · asked by nathan122591 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
An excellent question, nathan. Snow looks white for the same reason that clouds, bowls of sugar and a polar bear's fur looks white. The individial elements making up the snow, clouds, sugar or fur are transparent and clear but they scatter the light that falls on them. As the scattered light is white, the snow appears white as all wavelengths are scattered equally. As the snow melts, the small particles of ice become large areas of water which reflects but does not scatter the light so the water no longer looks white.
2007-04-04 14:33:10 · answer #1 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snow isn't really white, but clear. Light just gets so scrambled up by all of the tiny facets that it is mixed into white. Remember, white light is just all of the colours mixed together.
2007-04-04 15:34:27 · answer #2 · answered by computerguy103 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the white of the snow is actually ice. If you do the shaving of ice, you would see similar way it looks to snow. It just melts.
2007-04-04 15:39:21 · answer #3 · answered by mystic_lonewolf22 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Back to the north pole with Santa, the Easter Bunny and Big Foot...
2007-04-04 15:39:44 · answer #4 · answered by Toots 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My science is reeeaaalllyyy baaaadddd but, there is no white, just a reflection from the crystals?
2007-04-04 15:34:32 · answer #5 · answered by Emerald Jones 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All my snow was yellow so I don't know. Damn dogs.
2007-04-04 15:34:26 · answer #6 · answered by hansh0t1st 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably the same place your common sense went.
2007-04-04 15:33:49 · answer #7 · answered by Troy R 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your kidding, RIGHT. You can't possibly be serious
2007-04-04 15:58:40 · answer #8 · answered by chrylmichell 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋