Question

In white light of sun, maximum scattering by the air molecular present in the earth’s atmosphere is for ______.

Options

• Red colour

• Yellow colour

• Green colour

• Blue colour

Answer 1

In white light of the sun, maximum scattering by the air molecular present in the earth’s atmosphere is blue colour.

Explanation:

When the light of a certain frequency falls on that atom or molecule, this atom or molecule responds to the light whenever the size of the atom or molecule is comparable to the wavelength of light. The sizes of nitrogen and oxygen molecules in atmosphere are comparable to the wavelength of blue light. These molecules act as scattering centers for the scattering of blue light. This is also the reason that we see the sky as blue.