Scattering of Light in Physics
Scattering is when light rays hit small particles in the atmosphere and get spread out in different directions instead of going straight.
Why Does It Happen?
Light travels in a straight line, but when it hits dust, water droplets, or gas molecules, it bounces off in random directions. This is called scattering.
Examples in Real Life:
Blue Sky: Blue light scatters more than other colors because it has a shorter wavelength, which is why the sky looks blue.
Red Sunsets: At sunset, the sun’s light has to pass through more atmosphere, so blue light scatters away and red/orange light reaches us.
Types of Scattering
Rayleigh Scattering: Affects small particles and shorter wavelengths (like blue).
Mie Scattering: Affects bigger particles (like water droplets in clouds) and scatters all colors equally.
Key Point:
Scattering doesn’t destroy light—it just redirects it.