Question
Why is the sky orange and red at sunrise and sunset?
Gases absorb orange and red light.
Blue wavelengths are absorbed by the atmosphere.
The thick atmosphere scatters all but longer wavelengths.
Only short wavelengths are radiated from the Sun in the morning and evening.
Gases absorb orange and red light.
Blue wavelengths are absorbed by the atmosphere.
The thick atmosphere scatters all but longer wavelengths.
Only short wavelengths are radiated from the Sun in the morning and evening.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The phenomenon of the sky appearing orange and red at sunrise and sunset is primarily due to the scattering of light in the Earth's atmosphere.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
1. **Scattering of Light**: The Earth's atmosphere is composed of gases and particles that scatter sunlight. The scattering of light is more effective at shorter wavelengths, which corresponds to the blue end of the spectrum. This means that when the Sun is high in the sky, its light takes a shorter path through the atmosphere, and more blue light is scattered in various directions, making the sky appear blue.
2. **Longer Path at Sunrise and Sunset**: During sunrise and sunset, the Sun is lower on the horizon, and its light must travel through a greater thickness of the atmosphere. As the light travels through more atmosphere, most of the shorter blue wavelengths are scattered out of the direct path of light.
3. **Dominance of Longer Wavelengths**: With the scattering of blue light, the longer wavelengths (orange, red, and yellow) become more prominent. Therefore, when you look at the Sun during these times, you're primarily seeing the longer wavelengths, which gives the sky its beautiful orange and red hues.
In summary, the correct option is that the thick atmosphere scatters all but the longer wavelengths, leading to the striking orange and red colors at sunrise and sunset.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
1. **Scattering of Light**: The Earth's atmosphere is composed of gases and particles that scatter sunlight. The scattering of light is more effective at shorter wavelengths, which corresponds to the blue end of the spectrum. This means that when the Sun is high in the sky, its light takes a shorter path through the atmosphere, and more blue light is scattered in various directions, making the sky appear blue.
2. **Longer Path at Sunrise and Sunset**: During sunrise and sunset, the Sun is lower on the horizon, and its light must travel through a greater thickness of the atmosphere. As the light travels through more atmosphere, most of the shorter blue wavelengths are scattered out of the direct path of light.
3. **Dominance of Longer Wavelengths**: With the scattering of blue light, the longer wavelengths (orange, red, and yellow) become more prominent. Therefore, when you look at the Sun during these times, you're primarily seeing the longer wavelengths, which gives the sky its beautiful orange and red hues.
In summary, the correct option is that the thick atmosphere scatters all but the longer wavelengths, leading to the striking orange and red colors at sunrise and sunset.