RS

Blue sky Red sunset

Dr. (Mrs) Dipti Srivastava

Mrs. Samita Srivastava
Aim
When the sky is not cloudy, it is blue in
colour.
When the sun is setting, it is red.
Why is this so?
WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?
Why is the sky blue?
Sunlight contains a full range of
wavelengths in the visible region.

The sun has red and blue lights that

are scattered by molecules (N2, O2,
CO2) in the air. This process is called
Rayleigh Scatter.
 Short wavelengths are scattered
more than long wavelengths.

Blue light (short) is scattered 10

times more than red light.

Henceforth the sky appears blue.

Equipments
A flashlight
A transparent container with parallel
sides
250ml of milk
Steps
1. Set the container on a table.
2. Fill the container to quarter full.
3. Light the flashlight and hold it
against the side of the container so
its beam shines through the water.
4. The beam passes straight and a
white light is seen from the opposite
side.
Steps
5. Add about 60 millilitres of milk to
the water and stir it.
6. Hold the flashlight to the side of the
container, as before.
7. The beam becomes less visible.
8. Then, add the rest of the milk.
9. You will realise that the beam of
light have became blue.
Pictures of the experiment
Start
Different views of the setup
Why is this so?

When milk is added into water, more

particles are added into the water.

Milk contains many tiny particles of

protein and fat suspended in water.

These particles scatter the light and

make the beam of the flashlight look
blue.
WHY ARE SUNSETS RED?
 At sunset or sunrise, the sunlight has
to travel a longer path through the
atmosphere than at noon.
 The blue light is scattered out
leaving only the red light travel
to the earth.

So the sky appears red.