What will be the colour of the sky when it is observed from a place in the absence of any atmosphere ?
What will be the colour of the sky when it is observed from a place in the absence of any atmosphere ?
Official answer
In the absence of any atmosphere, there would be no particles to scatter sunlight. Since no light is scattered towards our eyes, the sky would appear completely dark (or black).
Marking scheme
- 1.State that there is no atmosphere to cause scattering of light: [0.5 marks]
- 2.Conclude that the sky will appear dark/black: [0.5 marks]
Hint
Think about what causes the sky to look blue on Earth, and what would happen if the scattering medium (air and dust particles) were completely removed.
Quick oral answer
The sky appears dark or black because there is no atmosphere to scatter light. Without scattering, no light reaches our eyes from other directions of the sky.
Common mistakes
- 1.Thinking the sky would still appear blue because of the oceans.
- 2.Confusing scattering with reflection.
Analysis and explanation
The blue colour of the sky is due to the scattering of sunlight by the minute molecules and particles present in the Earth's atmosphere. In the absence of an atmosphere (such as in outer space or on the Moon), there are no particles to scatter light. Consequently, no scattered light reaches the observer's eyes, making the sky appear black.
Interesting facts
Astronauts in space see a completely black sky even during the daytime because there is no atmosphere to scatter sunlight.
Question details
Q2 of 41 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 10
- Subject
- Science
- Year
- 2012
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- Very Short Answer
- Topic
- Scattering of Light
- Bloom's level
- Understanding
- Syllabus topic
- Scattering of light - Tyndall effect, colour of the sky
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Frequently asked questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2012?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 examination.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Scattering of Light" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 paper?
This is a Very Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 paper.