When a beam of white light passes through a region having very fine dust particles, the colour of light mainly scattered in that region is :
When a beam of white light passes through a region having very fine dust particles, the colour of light mainly scattered in that region is :
Options
The correct option is C (Blue).
Marking Scheme
- 1Correct option selection (C) (1 mark)
Hint
Recall that very fine particles scatter shorter wavelengths of light much more effectively than longer wavelengths.
Quick Oral Answer
Very fine dust particles scatter blue light because its wavelength is shorter, making it highly susceptible to scattering by particles smaller than the wavelength of visible light.
Analysis & Explanation
According to the principles of scattering of light, very fine particles in the atmosphere (such as air molecules and fine dust) have sizes smaller than the wavelength of visible light. These fine particles are more effective in scattering light of shorter wavelengths (at the blue end of the spectrum) than light of longer wavelengths (at the red end). Therefore, when white light passes through a region with very fine dust particles, blue light is mainly scattered.
- Option A (Red): Incorrect. Red light has a longer wavelength and is scattered least by very fine particles.
- Option B (Orange): Incorrect. Orange has a longer wavelength than blue and is not scattered predominantly by fine particles.
- Option C (Blue): Correct. Shorter wavelengths like blue are scattered most efficiently by very fine particles.
- Option D (Yellow): Incorrect. Yellow light has a longer wavelength than blue and is scattered much less.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing the scattering of fine particles with larger dust/water droplets which scatter all wavelengths equally to appear white.
Interesting Facts
If the Earth had no atmosphere, the sky would look completely dark because there would be no particles to scatter light!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2024?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "The Human Eye and the Colourful World" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
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 2024 paper?
This is a MCQ question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 paper.