SCATTERING OF LIGHT

 Scattering of light is change in direction brought out by irregular and partial reflection of light when it hits on the particles of the medium.

Examples of scattering of light

  • Scattering of sunlight in the earth’s atmosphere - when sunlight passes through the earth atmosphere, ray of lights are reflected by the tiny particles of dust, smoke etc in the atmosphere 

  • When white light is passed through one side of beaker contain colloidal sulphur (mixture of sodium thiosulphate, hydrochloric acid and water) the light emerges out through the opposite side of beaker can be observed in colours like red due to scattering of light. 

    Scattering and wavelength 

    Light is composed of seven colours VIBGOYR. 

    Each colours has different wavelength as shown in the above table. Colours with smallest wavelength like violet, indigo, blue etc undergo maximum scattering while interacting with the particles of medium through light passes, but colours with greater wavelength like red, orange etc scatter less compared to other colours with less wavelength.
    The rate of scattering and size of the particles in the medium through which light passes are interrelated. As the size of the particles increases rate of scattering also increases. 

OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Most viewed

WORKING MODEL FOR SCIENCE EXHIBITION- DANCING BALLOON

ELECTRIC CHARGES

MAGNETS