Scattering Principles Explained

The phenomenon described relates to the scattering of light by particles. The principle governing this is dependent on the relative size of the scattering particles compared to the wavelength of the light.

Particle Size and Light Scattering

According to Rayleigh scattering, when particles are much smaller than the wavelength of light (like air molecules), they scatter shorter wavelengths more effectively than longer ones.

• Shorter wavelengths: Blue and violet light.
• Longer wavelengths: Red and orange light.

Colour of Scattered Light

Very fine particles, such as the molecules in Earth's atmosphere, are significantly smaller than the wavelengths of visible light. Consequently, these particles preferentially scatter shorter wavelengths.

Reasoning: Shorter wavelengths like blue light are scattered much more strongly than longer wavelengths like red light by these tiny particles.

Therefore, very fine particles scatter mainly Blue light.