Single correct option
The Sun appears reddish at sunrise and sunset mainly because
- A. red light is scattered the most in the atmosphere
- B. the Sun emits more red light at those times
- C. ozone absorbs all the blue light completely
- D. blue and violet light are scattered away more strongly than red over the long atmospheric path
Show answer and solution
Answer: (D) blue and violet light are scattered away more strongly than red over the long atmospheric path
Scattering is stronger for shorter wavelengths (Rayleigh scattering varies as 1/λ⁴). At sunrise and sunset sunlight travels a longer path through air, so most blue and violet light is scattered out of the beam and the red light that reaches the eye dominates. Red is scattered least, not most, which is the trap.
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