A person is driving on an extremely foggy day and cannot see the road ahead very well. They decide to turn on the headlights on the car. Even after turning on the headlights, the person cannot see the road ahead very well. Why does the light not help see through the fog?

Question

Fog is a heterogeneous mixture of water and air. It scatters light in all directions, which is why it is hard to see.

Fog is a homogeneous mixture of water and air. Homogeneous mixtures can be clear and easy to see through.

Fog is a heterogeneous mixture of water and air. The water will separate from the air when the light hits it, making it easier to see.

Fog is a homogeneous mixture of water and air. Homogeneous mixtures absorb light and do not let it pass.

Answer 1

The correct reason why turning on the headlights does not help the driver see through the fog is:

Fog is a heterogeneous mixture of water and air. It scatters light in all directions, which is why it is hard to see.

When headlights illuminate the fog, the light becomes scattered by the water droplets in the fog, causing a reduction in visibility. Instead of illuminating the road ahead, the light reflects off the fog itself, creating a bright, washed-out effect that makes it difficult to see through the fog.