Which of the following phenomena contributes significantly to the reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise or sunset?
Which of the following phenomena contributes significantly to the reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise or sunset?
The correct option is B Scattering of light
Explanation for correct option:
Option B: Scattering of light:
- When white light from the sun enters the earth's atmosphere, it is scattered, or spreads in all directions, by dust particles, free water molecules, and gas molecules present in the atmosphere. This is referred to as the scattering of light.
- The light beams from the Sun must travel a considerable distance through the earth's atmosphere before reaching our sight before sunrise.
- Shorter wavelengths of light are dispersed out throughout this journey, leaving only longer wavelengths to reach our eyes.
- Because blue has a shorter wavelength and red has a longer wavelength, the red color is able to reach our eyes after the light is scattered by the atmosphere. As a result, the Sun appears reddish in the early morning.
Hence, option (B) is correct.
Explanation for incorrect options:
Option A: Dispersion of light:
When white light passes through a glass prism, it splits into its spectrum of colors (in order violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red), and this process of splitting white light into its constituent colors is known as dispersion.
Option C: Total internal reflection of light:
Total internal reflection, in physics, is the complete reflection of a ray of light from the surrounding surfaces back into a medium such as water or glass. The phenomenon occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds a certain limiting angle known as the critical angle.
Option D: Reflection:
The reflection of light occurs when a light ray approaches a smooth polished surface and bounces back.
Here, options (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect.
Hence, option (B) is correct.
Scattering of light
Explanation for correct option:
Option B: Scattering of light:
- When white light from the sun enters the earth's atmosphere, it is scattered, or spreads in all directions, by dust particles, free water molecules, and gas molecules present in the atmosphere. This is referred to as the scattering of light.
- The light beams from the Sun must travel a considerable distance through the earth's atmosphere before reaching our sight before sunrise.
- Shorter wavelengths of light are dispersed out throughout this journey, leaving only longer wavelengths to reach our eyes.
- Because blue has a shorter wavelength and red has a longer wavelength, the red color is able to reach our eyes after the light is scattered by the atmosphere. As a result, the Sun appears reddish in the early morning.
Hence, option (B) is correct.
Explanation for incorrect options:
Option A: Dispersion of light:
When white light passes through a glass prism, it splits into its spectrum of colors (in order violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red), and this process of splitting white light into its constituent colors is known as dispersion.
Option C: Total internal reflection of light:
Total internal reflection, in physics, is the complete reflection of a ray of light from the surrounding surfaces back into a medium such as water or glass. The phenomenon occurs when the angle of incidence exceeds a certain limiting angle known as the critical angle.
Option D: Reflection:
The reflection of light occurs when a light ray approaches a smooth polished surface and bounces back.
Here, options (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect.
Hence, option (B) is correct.
