Blue sky

[pjm007]

Why is the sky blue ? Is it just a reflection from the atmosphere ?

[stevie21]

The sky has lots of colours in it - we can only see the blue bit

[rja211077]

check out the "could-it-BE-more-relevant" website http://whyistheskyblue.org/

[samz90]

The blue colour of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air.

However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue. 

As you look closer to the horizon, the sky appears much paler in colour. To reach you, the scattered blue light must pass through more air. Some of it gets scattered away again in other directions. Less blue light reaches your eyes. The colour of the sky near the horizon appears paler or white. 



 

[4lec]

basically samz90- isnt it some sort of driffraction in a sense, meaning that the light speeds up/slows down and we only catch the blue part of it

Just wonderin if what i was thinkin is rite (AS Levels soon and mind workin in stupid ways)

Soz
ALEC