Question

When is the intensity of scattered light independent of the wavelength?

• A. Medium of travel is not air.
• B. Particles involved in scattering have size smaller than the wavelength of the incident light wave.
• C. Particles involved in scattering have size larger than the wavelength of the incident light wave.
• D. Particles scattering the light wave are not neutral in charge.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Particles involved in scattering have size larger than the wavelength of the incident light wave.

Particles smaller than the wavelength of light scatters the light in all directions. In visible spectrum, they scatter violet the most and red the least. However, when the particles are larger than the wavelength of light, then the scattering of all wavelengths occur to same extent.