Chapter 13, Problem 17RQ

Solution

To determine: Reason behind the blueness of the sky.

Answer:

Scattering is the reason due to which the sky looks blue.

Explanation:

When light bounces back through the same medium, that phenomenon is known as the reflection of the light and the bending of the light from its same path is known as the refraction of the light. These two phenomena are not the reason for the blueness of the sky.

When a light ray strikes on an atom, its electrons start vibrating with the same frequency in all over the directions. This re-emission of the light is called the scattering of light. Earth's atmosphere is a higher concentration of oxygen and nitrogen than any other gases. These gases scatter violet light as most as possible, and the human eyes are not very sensitive for the violet light, scattered blue light dominates the vision.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the reason behind the blueness of the sky is scattering of light.