answered question
0
Votes
Votes
3
Answers
Answers
M$0.35
why is the sky blue?
voted interesting: jasoncalacanis M$0.10
voted uninteresting: lilyloretta
|
Report
answers (3)
The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air.
However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.
As you look closer to the horizon, the sky appears much paler in color. To reach you, the scattered blue light must pass through more air. Some of it gets scattered away again in other directions. Less blue light reaches your eyes. The color of the sky near the horizon appears paler or white.
However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.
As you look closer to the horizon, the sky appears much paler in color. To reach you, the scattered blue light must pass through more air. Some of it gets scattered away again in other directions. Less blue light reaches your eyes. The color of the sky near the horizon appears paler or white.
Source? Or reference link for more info? Thanks :)
Tip hillo for this comment
|
Report
I couldn't vote for this answer as it provides no sources, even though they were asked for.
Tip lilyloretta for this comment
|
Report
Well...yes, it is because of wavelengths of light - but more importantly I can tell you this...you are not the first person to ask this most excellent question here at MA...
For a very nice run down of all the answers from the past please follow this link http://www.mahalo.com/answers/search?q=why+is+the+sky+blue to see the entire Q/A history!
Mahalo!
For a very nice run down of all the answers from the past please follow this link http://www.mahalo.com/answers/search?q=why+is+the+sky+blue to see the entire Q/A history!
Mahalo!
source(s):
Mahalo
Mahalo
voted helpful: daigakuinsei
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/astronomy-and-space/why-is-the-sky-blue-1
Question that includes my original response to this question...along with responses from other MA members...
Question that includes my original response to this question...along with responses from other MA members...
I have answered the same question last week and had the best answer also. This was my answer(with little edits)
"The direct light from the sun consists of seven colors VIBGYOR (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange & Red). Each of these colors has different wavelengths. Violet color has the shorter wavelength(380nm) and the wavelength gradually increase with red having the higher wavelength(720nm). As the light from the sun enters the atmosphere, it collides with elements on the atmosphere like oxygen, nitrogen, etc.. The colors with shorter wavelengths are scattered more than the colors with higher wavelengths. Hence colors like violet, indigo and blue are scattered more. As violet is scattered more the sky should appear violet. But, our eyes are more sensitive to colors like blue, yellow and red rather than other colors. As our eyes are more sensitive to blue rather than violet or indigo, we percieve the sky as blue."
"The direct light from the sun consists of seven colors VIBGYOR (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange & Red). Each of these colors has different wavelengths. Violet color has the shorter wavelength(380nm) and the wavelength gradually increase with red having the higher wavelength(720nm). As the light from the sun enters the atmosphere, it collides with elements on the atmosphere like oxygen, nitrogen, etc.. The colors with shorter wavelengths are scattered more than the colors with higher wavelengths. Hence colors like violet, indigo and blue are scattered more. As violet is scattered more the sky should appear violet. But, our eyes are more sensitive to colors like blue, yellow and red rather than other colors. As our eyes are more sensitive to blue rather than violet or indigo, we percieve the sky as blue."
source(s):
http://www.why-is-the-sky-blue.tv/why-is-the-sky-blue.htm
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/BlueSky/blue_sky.html
http://www.why-is-the-sky-blue.tv/why-is-the-sky-blue.htm
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/BlueSky/blue_sky.html
tags: sky
voted helpful: lilyloretta
I have answered the same question last week and had the best answer also.
Are you kidding me with this? It's like you are saying indirectly that yours should get best answer?
Are you kidding me with this? It's like you are saying indirectly that yours should get best answer?
I just want to say that the same question was recently asked and has been answered, though the best answer was mine. Instead of giving a link to the answer, I have repeated the same answer here, in fact, to get the best answer again. But, it is up to you to choose which answer is best.
Related questions
140 characters left
ask any question
