With the help of scattering of light, explain the reason for the difference in colours of the Sun as it appears during sunset/sunrise and noon.

The sun appears red in colour during sunset/sunrise and white at noon. The reason for difference in colours of the sun is because at the time of sunrise and sunset, the sun remains below the horizon, hence light from the sun passes through thicker layers of air and larger distances in the earth's atmosphere before reaching our eyes. During this time, most of the blue light rays and other shorter wavelengths rays are scattered away by the molecules of air and other fine particles in the atmosphere. Therefore, only red light, being of a higher wavelength reaches us which gives the reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise or sunset.

While, at noon, the Sun is overhead, so the sunlight has to travel a relatively shorter distance. Thus, during this shorter journey of sunlight, only a little of the blue colour of white light is scattered (most of the blue light remains in it). Therefore, the Sun appears mostly white at noon.

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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