Question

The color of scattered light depends on ______ of the scattering particles.
A. Shape
B. Material
C. Size
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Scattering is the phenomenon of splitting a beam of light into sub beams in different directions on interacting or striking on different particles in atmosphere or medium. The reason for the sky and ocean to look blue could be explained by the phenomenon of scattering.

Complete step by step answer:
According to Rayleigh scattering effect, the electromagnetic waves interact with the particles that are much smaller than the wavelength of the incident radiation ($size \approx \dfrac{\lambda}{10}$). Hence the scattering of light depends upon the wavelength of light as well as the size of the scattering particles. Thus option C. is correct.

Additional information:
The phenomenon explaining the color of sky and deep water as blue is also a Rayleigh scattering effect. In terms of light or radiation used, it depends upon the wavelength of light incident. Smaller the wavelength, more the scattering. According to ‘VIBGYOR’, the wavelength of light increases as we move from ‘V’ to ‘R’ increases. Thus the red colored light has the maximum wavelength and hence it scatters the least whereas violet and bluish colored light scatters the most which after interaction with the atmosphere molecules, gets scattered in many directions and hence falls directly in our eyes. Thus, to us the sky appears blue.

Note:
The amount of scattering also depends upon the concentration of particles in the region too. When the wavelength of light is lesser as compared to the size of scattering molecules like water molecules, all the colors get almost equally scattered which is the reason for the cloud to appear white.