General Science • PhysicsMedium
What is the primary reason why clouds appear white to the human eye?
A. Mie scattering of light by large water droplets and ice crystals✓ Correct Answer
B. Rayleigh scattering of light by tiny gas molecules
C. Total internal reflection of sunlight inside raindrops
D. Interference of light waves in the atmosphere
💡 Solution & Explanation
Clouds consist of water droplets and ice crystals whose sizes are comparable to or larger than the wavelength of visible light, causing Mie scattering which scatters all wavelengths equally, making the light appear white. Rayleigh scattering, by contrast, involves much smaller gas molecules and accounts for the blue color of the clear sky. Atmospheric optics questions frequently distinguish between these two scattering phenomena.
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