2007-12-09 22:19:43 · 11 answers · asked by ? 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Well, we have to consider optics a bit to answer this question.
As visible light enters the cloud, most of the light is scattered by the cloud drops that make up the cloud. When all visible light is scattered, the resulting light is white. So, therefore, clouds usually appear as white.
However, many times, as in the case of rain clouds, clouds will appear grey to black. Why is this?
There are two basic reasons: one is as a cloud grows more dense, its absorbs most of the visible light. When all visible light is absorbed, the resulting color is black. Second, as the size of the cloud drops increase in size, they also absorb more light, leading to a darker appearance.
Bottom line – the denser a cloud is, and the more water is in the cloud, the darker is will be.
2007-12-10 03:02:49 · answer #1 · answered by Qvector 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Grey clouds are the full ones going here to the UK. White clouds are the empties coming back for a refill.
2007-12-12 08:05:14 · answer #2 · answered by biscuit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depending how much water is held in the cloud and how much light penetrates the cloud,is what gives the grey
look,more water in the cloud the less light penetrates
thus the darker it looks.
2007-12-10 06:32:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
during the day the sun shines. so if you stand out side you cast a shadow right?? well its KIND OF the same concept. the sun can't shine thought the clouds that are well duh made of water. tiny water particles form and stick to gether to make clouds. the more water molecules that stick together the heavier they get. now you have a rain drop. but yea as you know it takes more than one to make a cloud. so they gather to gether...walla you got a rain cloud. different from other clouds they are a shade of gray like you said. what causes this simply the shadow or the rain drops in the clouds. now if we all knew why the sky was blue...
2007-12-10 08:32:21 · answer #4 · answered by greatscoobyfan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, all clouds are white (unless they are clouds of smoke)
Certainly all normal weather clouds are white, but the thicker they are, the less light gets through them (they are opaque) and so the bases appear dark because they are in the shade.
2007-12-10 07:20:54 · answer #5 · answered by Nick J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Due to water in the clouds , the more the water the darker the gray will be
2007-12-10 07:10:54 · answer #6 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the clouds are so thick that light is not able to pass through them completely.
2007-12-10 12:40:15 · answer #7 · answered by Arasan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are dirty from air pollution before the industrial revolution they were normally white-grey now they are grey-black
ROLL ON TOTALLY GREEN ENERGY POWERED WORLD
2007-12-11 19:07:24 · answer #8 · answered by steam4power 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry for being pernickity, but i don't think gray is a colour, it's a shade lol x
2007-12-10 06:31:27 · answer #9 · answered by tboyd322001 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because they are full of rain, and therefore darker like a sponge in water,
2007-12-10 06:22:54 · answer #10 · answered by EMILY S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋