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Soaring Crane
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What does light refraction have to do with the sky being blue (or any color for that matter)?
Thanks for any replies.
Thanks for any replies.
Light refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a medium, such as air or water. This phenomenon occurs due to the change in speed of light as it moves through different densities of materials.
Light refraction causes the different wavelengths of light (colors) to bend at different angles as they pass through the Earth's atmosphere. This creates the effect of scattering, where shorter wavelengths (blue and violet) are scattered more than longer wavelengths (red and orange). As a result, the sky appears blue during the day and takes on shades of orange and red during sunrise and sunset.
The density and composition of the atmosphere are the main factors that influence light refraction. The Earth's atmosphere is made up of various gases, water vapor, and particles, which all have different densities and can affect how light bends as it passes through.
During sunrise and sunset, the sun's light must pass through a longer path of the Earth's atmosphere, causing more scattering of the shorter blue and violet wavelengths. This leaves mostly the longer red and orange wavelengths to reach our eyes, resulting in the vibrant colors we see in the sky.
Yes, light refraction can be observed in many natural phenomena, such as rainbows, mirages, and the twinkling of stars. It is also crucial in the functioning of optical instruments, such as lenses and prisms.