Why do DVDs scatter blue light and CDs scatter white light?

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The discussion centers on the scattering of light in the atmosphere compared to how CDs and DVDs reflect light. It clarifies that the color of light scattered by clouds and the sky is not solely due to density but rather the size of particles involved. DVDs can appear blue due to the presence of a blue azo dye, while CDs may scatter white light because of their larger indentations. The mechanisms for color in atmospheric phenomena and optical media are distinct, with the size of the particles or indentations playing a crucial role. Ultimately, the color differences in DVDs and CDs are more related to material properties than to density.
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In the sky the less dense parts of the sky scatter blue light and the denser clouds scatter white light. So why does a CD scatter relativly white light and the denser DVD blue light?
 
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What do you mean? Why is a blue DVD blue? It can be blue because a blue azo dye is present on the data layer. The data layer can also be metallic which might look as if it is scattering relatively white light.
 
The claud and sky scattering has little to do with density.
 
Some dvds are "denser" than others? What does that even mean? There are several different processes by which DVDs and cds are made, using different materials that have different colors. "density" has nothing to do with it.

Clouds are not the same composition as clear-blue sky so it isn't correct just to say that a cloud is "denser". The mechanisms to cause the color have nothing at all to do with others. Atomized liquid water is essentially opaque white.
 
Thanks for the replys.
russ_watters said:
Some dvds are "denser" than others? What does that even mean? There are several different processes by which DVDs and cds are made, using different materials that have different colors. "density" has nothing to do with it.

Clouds are not the same composition as clear-blue sky so it isn't correct just to say that a cloud is "denser". The mechanisms to cause the color have nothing at all to do with others. Atomized liquid water is essentially opaque white.
I think I should explain myself better:
First of all, the reason that clouds are white because it is made out of bigger particles than the particles in the "clear-blue sky" (this is what i meant by denser)
http://acept.asu.edu/PiN/rdg/sky/sky.shtml
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/BlueSky/blue_sky.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/blusky.html

CDs and DVDs store memory by small indentations on the surface. The ones with more memory (DVD) have more indentations that are closer together and smaller.

But maybe the key here is the smaller, not the closer together. Just like the smaller particles of the clear-blue sky scatter shorter wavelengths (blue) and the bigger particles of the clouds all the wavelengths (white), the DVD with smaller holes scatters blue light and the bigger CD holes white light? Or is the color difference related only to difference in materials?
 
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