Scattering of light


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Scattering Of Light

Normally, when you switch on a torch, you do not see a beam of light traveling from the torch. Similarly, during the day you do not see the path of the sunlight as it illuminates things around you. However, you can see the path of light if there is dust, smoke or other small particles in the air. You might have seen the path of sunlight streaming into a room through a gap in the curtains. You might have also seen it coming down through gaps in trees in the early morning mist. In both cases, the path of the light is visible from different positions.

You know that light travels in straight lines. So, for us to see the path of light from different positions, light must be redirected in different directions by the particles in its path. The phenomenon in which a part of the light incident on a particle is redirected in different directions is called scattering of light.

When light falls on small particles, a part of it gets scattered in different directions. The rest of the light goes straight through. Do the following activity to see for yourself to see the process of scattering of light.

Activity :-

Place a glass of tap water in front of a paper screen or wall. Shine a laser pointer (or a small powerful torch) through the water. You will only see spots of light on the screen and on the walls of the glass.

In this activity, the scattering of light by particles of milk in its path enables you to see the path of the light. You are able to see the path because light from each point on it reaches your eyes. You will notice that the path of the light is visible from different positions around the glass. This means that milk particles send a part of the light in all directions. The rest of the light keeps moving in the original direction, making the spot of light on the screen.

A suspension of small particles in a medium is called a colloid. Milk is a colloid in which small fat particles are suspended in water. Smoke is a colloid in which ash particles are suspended in air. Fog and mist are colloids in which droplets of water are suspended in air. You will be able to see the path of a strong beam of light through all of these. The scattering of light by the particles in a colloidal solution is called the Tyndall effect. The scattered light makes the path of light visible. The activity above is also an example of the Tyndall effect.

Sample Questions
(More Questions for each concept available in Login)
Question : 1

Which of the following are correct ?

(a) The scattering of light by the dust particles enables us to see the path of the light as it enters a dark room.

(b) A suspension of small particles in a medium is called a colloid.

(c) The scattering of light by the particles in a colloidal solution is called the dispersion of light .

Right Option : A
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Explanation
Question : 2

The sky looks blue on a clear,sunny day because of ___________________.

Right Option : B
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Explanation
Question : 3

__________is the phenomenon due to which sky appears dark instead of blue to an astronaut

Right Option : A
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Explanation
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