Why do you see a red sunset sometimes?

  • Thread starter Matty
  • Start date
In summary, our physics teacher has given us two theory problems to solve - why we see a red sunset sometimes and how rainbows form. These problems can be explained by the scattering of red light in the atmosphere and the refraction of light through water droplets. Any help with these problems would be greatly appreciated.
  • #1
Matty
2
0
Hai people, our physics teacher has given us two theory problems to sloves which I am having trouble doing, so any help on this would be great

the two problems are,

Why do you see a red sunset sometimes?

and

how do rainbows form?

any help would be great as I said
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Are you related to BryceG?

Why do you see a red sunset sometimes?

If there are clouds or even a lot of water vapor, only red light, having the shortest wave length, will get through to your eye without being scattered.

how do rainbows form?
See my answer to BryceG's "questions".
 
  • #3
thanks man

and no I am not related to BryceG
 
  • #4
That was a facetious question. In case you didn't notice, BryceG gave a series of questions very similar to yours.
 

1. Why does the sky turn red during a sunset?

During a sunset, the sun's rays have to travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere to reach our eyes. This causes the shorter blue and green wavelengths to scatter, leaving only the longer red wavelengths to reach our eyes and create the red hue in the sky.

2. Why is the sunset sometimes more red than other times?

The amount of dust, pollution, and clouds in the atmosphere can affect the colors we see during a sunset. These particles can scatter the light in different ways, causing the sunset to appear more red or less red depending on the conditions.

3. Why are sunsets more red in certain locations?

Areas near the equator tend to have more vibrant sunsets due to the angle of the sun's rays passing through the atmosphere. The tilt of the Earth also plays a role, as the angle of the sun's rays can change depending on the time of year and location.

4. Why do some sunsets have a mix of red, orange, and pink colors?

The varying colors in a sunset can be attributed to the different layers of the Earth's atmosphere. As the sun's rays pass through these layers, they interact with different particles and gases, causing the different colors to appear in the sky.

5. Why does the sky sometimes turn purple during a sunset?

When the sun is at a low angle in the sky, it may appear more reddish or orange. As it continues to set, the angle changes and the remaining sunlight has to pass through more of the Earth's atmosphere, causing the red and orange colors to dissipate and leaving the purplish hues behind.

Similar threads

  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
2
Replies
41
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
13
Views
888
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
23
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
25
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
362
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
619
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
1K
Back
Top