General Science • PhysicsEasy
What is the phenomenon responsible for the blue color of the clear sky during daytime?
A. Reflection of light by water vapor
B. Rayleigh scattering of sunlight by atmospheric molecules✓ Correct Answer
C. Total internal reflection of light in the stratosphere
D. Refraction of light through ice crystals
💡 Solution & Explanation
The blue color of the clear sky is caused by Rayleigh scattering, where shorter wavelengths of light such as blue and violet are scattered much more intensely by nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere than longer wavelengths. Violet light is less visible to human eyes than blue light, and solar radiation is also less intense at violet wavelengths. Light travels in electromagnetic waves, and Rayleigh scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength. The phenomenon of light scattering by colloidal particles is known as the Tyndall effect.
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