Please could sum1 give me a suggestion here

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the diffraction of visible light through a milky jar, simulating fog. Participants noted that yellow light, despite having a shorter wavelength than red, is more effective in penetrating the medium due to its lower diffusion. The phenomenon is attributed to chromatic aberration and the "circle of least confusion," which makes yellow light more visible in foggy conditions. Key resources provided include links to articles on chromatic aberration and the use of yellow in fog lights.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of light diffraction and refraction
  • Familiarity with chromatic aberration concepts
  • Basic knowledge of visible light wavelengths
  • Experience with experimental physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "chromatic aberration" and its effects on light behavior
  • Explore "circle of least confusion" in optics
  • Investigate the role of "scattering" in atmospheric optics
  • Study the application of yellow light in fog lamps and its advantages
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Physics students, optical engineers, and anyone interested in the behavior of light in various mediums, particularly in relation to visibility in foggy conditions.

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Please could sum1 give me a suggestion here!

Hi, i recently did an experiment whereby all the visble colours of white light are shone through a milky jar (ie milk and water meant to imitate fog!).

Yellow shines through the greatest and they say(from articles where they explain why yellow liht is used in fog lamps) because it has the longest wavelength, thus its ability to diffract around the molecules is greater then those with shorter wavelengths.

However , i thought red had the longest wavelength of visble light, so this is more likely to be able to diffract more effectively.

However my final thought now is that, although red and orange may have longer wavelengths, and thus their difraction may be greater but therefore also more diffuse, spreading out more, so that the reading taken at the other side of the jar for intensity in lumens, will b less then yellow, since yellow won't be so diffuse, but still diffract to a great enough extent to register more then red/orange with more diffuse...

Would u agree with this final thinking ...? or is there more to this i should know?

Thanks Heaps! (if u got this far! ) thanks
 
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ku1005 said:
Hi, i recently did an experiment whereby all the visble colours of white light are shone through a milky jar (ie milk and water meant to imitate fog!).

Yellow shines through the greatest and they say(from articles where they explain why yellow liht is used in fog lamps) because it has the longest wavelength, thus its ability to diffract around the molecules is greater then those with shorter wavelengths.

However , i thought red had the longest wavelength of visble light, so this is more likely to be able to diffract more effectively.

However my final thought now is that, although red and orange may have longer wavelengths, and thus their difraction may be greater but therefore also more diffuse, spreading out more, so that the reading taken at the other side of the jar for intensity in lumens, will b less then yellow, since yellow won't be so diffuse, but still diffract to a great enough extent to register more then red/orange with more diffuse...

Would u agree with this final thinking ...? or is there more to this i should know?

Thanks Heaps! (if u got this far! ) thanks
Your milk bottle is a lens, badly formed, that is causing both refraction and diffraction problems (effects) to the light. You have chromatic aberration problems and diffraction problems in focusing to the "most visable" light, causing yellow to be, as in most short focal length lenses, the "circle of least confusion". Go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_Aberration and read about that and then click on "circle of least confusion" link on that page. Then go to http://www.danielsternlighting.com/images/S-Yellow.pdf to read about yellow in fog lights. These three sites should explain explain the yellow you see most easily.
 
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