Scattering of lights of different colours


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Scattering of Lights of Different Colours

When white light is incident on small suspended particles it gets scattered. The white light is a combination of different colour having different wavelengths. The colours of light scattered by a suspended particle depends on the size of the particle. Very small particles scatter lights of shorter wavelengths better than those of longer wavelengths. From Table, it is clear that bluish lights have shorter wavelengths than reddish lights. When white light is incident on small suspended particles, more of the shorter wavelengths of light (bluish lights) get scattered. Very little of longer wavelengths of light (reddish lights) get scattered. So, the remaining light is reddish.

The scattering of longer wavelengths of light increases as the size of the particles increases. Large particles scatter lights of all wavelengths equally well.

When smoke contains very fine particles of ash, the bluish lights get scattered, and the smoke looks milky blue. If the particles of ash are large, the entire light incident on it gets scattered. Then the smoke looks white. Clouds look white because of scattering by large drops of water in it.

Sample Questions
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Question : 1

Which of the following are correct :

(a) When white light is incident on small suspended particles, more of the shorter wavelengths of blue light get scattered.

(b) When white light is incident on small suspended particles, Very little of longer wavelengths of blue get scattered.

(c) When white light is incident on small suspended particles, Very little of longer wavelengths of red get scattered.

Right Option : C
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Question : 2

Which of the following are correct :

(a) The scattering of longer wavelengths of light increases as the size of the particles increases.

(b) Large particles scatter lights of all wavelengths equally well.

Right Option : C
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Explanation
Question : 3

Clouds look white because of ______________ by large drops of water in it.

Right Option : A
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Explanation
 
 


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