48Zach
October 10 2006 7:25 PM EDT
Do you think you know why the sky is blue? If not, here is the answer :D
The sun's rays hit the Earth's atmosphere, where the light is scattered by nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air. The blue wavelength of this light is affected more than the red and green wavelengths, causing the surrounding air to appear blue. At sunset, the sun's light passes farther through the atmosphere, deflecting and decreasing the blue in the air. Scattering by dust particles and pollution in the air causes the sunset to appear red.
I had to write this in an essay.. Can anyone tell me if there is any spelling mistakes in it?
the spell checker didn't point any out...
Stephen
October 11 2006 2:10 AM EDT
So if the shorter wavelengths are scattered then why isn't the sky violet, which is shorter than blue and therefore would be scattered more?
AdminShade
October 11 2006 2:37 AM EDT
violet wavelengths are too short, they aren't scattered in such a way as to produce that effect.
Stephen
October 11 2006 2:59 AM EDT
And in the evening, if more blue is scattered as the light travels further, why isn't there a time when the sky is green before it turns red?
BootyGod
October 11 2006 2:14 PM EDT
If the earth was 70% ground and 30% ocean... would it still be blue?
Seriously... would it?
PirateKing
October 11 2006 2:16 PM EDT
Yes it would. The color is the result of light rays being affected by their passage through the atmosphere, not the amount of land or water covering the surface.
BootyGod
October 11 2006 2:23 PM EDT
Oh? So if there was no water it would still be clue?
Seriously, I always wondered about this.
And in the evening, if more blue is scattered as the light travels further, why isn't there a time when the sky is green before it turns red?
There is, it happens very quickly and the sun has to be _very_ low to be seen, there is a restaurant in Florida, forget which island it is on, where you can see it at sundown called the Green Flash.
Stephen Young
October 11 2006 2:49 PM EDT
Wow. A green sky. didn't know that.
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