Question

The phenomena involved in the reflection of radio waves by ionosphere is similar to or not as the scattering of light by the particles of air.

Answer 1

As we know, when radio waves travel up in the atmosphere, they undergo multiple refractions away from the normal as the optical density of air keeps on reducing (in general). At the ionosphere, they reach the critical angle. Then, the phenomenon is known as total internal reflection.

Now, when the radio waves travel downwards and undergoes multiple refractions, the radio wave again and again moves towards the normal as the optical density of air increases as it goes towards the earth.

The phenomenon known as scattering of light in which light beam is scattered in different directions by fine particles, which is not similar to the reflection of radio waves.

Final Answer: No.