Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

 
 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  October 28, 2009 06:48 AM

Why is the sky blue

Interesting Question?  Yes (0)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Decided by Votes

 
October 29, 2009 06:54 PM
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. 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 yellow, 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



Tags: nature

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip mahaazar for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
November 01, 2009 01:00 PM
An excellent well-written answer that goes into more depth about color sensitivity. Also, you have taken the time to distill the information to make it easily understandable. Well done!

Report
 
 
 
November 01, 2009 01:25 PM
Thanks for your comment.

Report
 
 

Other Answers (2)

Sort By
 
October 28, 2009 10:21 AM
Seventy One percent of the earth is made up of ocean and the rest is land. A Clear Cloudless day-time sky is blue because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light. When we look towards the sun at sunset, we see red and orange colors because the blue light has been scattered out and away from the line of sight.
Source(s):
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/BlueSky/blue_sky.html


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip thisdudrocksharder for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
November 01, 2009 12:51 PM
This answer uses a direct quote without proper attribution. Please see Mahalo Answers Etiquette for guidelines about supporting your answers with sources.

Report
 
 
 
October 28, 2009 01:20 PM
As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions all around the sky so that wherever you look some of that blue light reaches you. Since everywhere you look in the sky you see the blue light, the sky looks blue.

These sites go more into depth and ponder other questions like black skies, white suns and red sunsets.

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/sky_blue.html

http://science.howstuffworks.com/sky.htm

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/misrsky/misr_sky.shtml

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip suzd688 for this answer
Permalink | Report
Voted as best: mmh38, kty2777
   Reply  
 
 
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • cfinke
    cfinke
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    29426 Points
    M$29.75 Earned
  • bunnyphuph...
    bunnyphuph...
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    22074 Points
    M$803.24 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt with a Brown Tip
    6882 Points
    M$359.74 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1849)
music(530)
iphone(496)
google(398)
online(382)
food(370)
money(313)
movies(303)
beer(302)
apple(265)
health(243)
video(237)
aotd(235)
free(233)
dog(219)
travel(218)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.