Question

What do you mean by scattering of light? Write its use in daily life.

Answer 1

Hint: The scattering of light is the process of light scatters according to its wavelength and frequency. The scattering means the deviation from the actual way of the light. As a result of this phenomenon, we are seeing many colors in this universe. Because of this phenomenon, we are seeing the sun in red color while sunset and sunrise, and the sky in blue color, etc.

Complete step by step answer:
(i) We know that the light travels in a straight line. While traveling, if it got deviated, the scattering of light occurs. And the particle in the medium through which the light travels absorbs the light. Because of the scattering and absorption of light, we are seeing colors.
(ii) Rayleigh gives the relation to the amount of scattering to its wavelength. He states that the amount of scattering($A$) is inversely proportional to the fourth power of its wavelength($\lambda$).
(i.e.) \[A \propto \dfrac{1}{{{\lambda ^4}}}\]
(iii) From the above relation, we can say that the light has a low wavelength and very high frequency can scatter more.
(iv) By Rayleigh’s scattering relation, we can say
Why is the sun red while sunset? and
Why is the sky blue?
(v) When the sunlight travels into the atmosphere. The sunlight gets scattered due to the particles present in the atmosphere. Among the visible spectrum VIBGYOR, violet has the least wavelength and red has more wavelength. Like the violet, blue color scatters more because of its least wavelength. Hence, the sky looks blue. We cannot see the violet color predominantly as our eyes are more sensitive to blue color.
(vi) All colors of the least wavelength get scattered and the colors have more wavelengths like red, orange left. So it reaches our eyes without much scattering. Hence we see red and yellow while sunset.
(vii) Traffic signals having red, yellow, and green light because these lights have more wavelength compared to other colors. These colors do not scatter more and reach our eyes with more intensity.

Note:
The scattering of light principle is applied all around us. The sky looks white in the noontime is also due to this principle. Naturally, this principle is applied and we human beings also acquired this principle for many applications. The scattering of light depends on the wavelength, frequency of the light, and the size of the particle.