Why does the sky appear blue?

Why does the sky appear blue?

The sky appears blue due to a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. When sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, it collides with air molecules, scattering shorter blue wavelengths more than the other colors.

Is that why sunsets look red?

Exactly! During sunset, the sunlight passes through more atmosphere, scattering the shorter blue wavelengths and allowing the longer red wavelengths to dominate.

What about cloudy days? Why does the sky look gray?

On cloudy days, the clouds scatter all colors of light more evenly, which can make the sky appear gray. The thickness and type of clouds also play a role.

Can pollution affect the color of the sky?

Yes, pollution can change the color of the sky. Particles in the air can scatter light differently, sometimes leading to more vibrant sunsets or a hazy appearance.