Rayleigh scattering
Noun
Meaning
Rayleigh scattering (usually uncountable, plural Rayleigh scatterings)
The elastic scattering of light or other electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the light.
Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in a clear atmosphere is the main reason why the sky is blue.
Examples
If a little kid ever asks you just why the sky is blue, you look him or her right in the eye and say, "It's because of quantum effects involving Rayleigh scattering combined with a lack of violet photon receptors in our retinae."
As previously stated, Rayleigh scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of wavelength, so that shorter wavelength violet and blue light will scatter more than the longer wavelengths (yellow and especially red light).
A subwavelength particle is a particle smaller than the wavelength of light with which it interacts (see Rayleigh scattering ).
Gives a brief history of theories of why the sky is blue leading up to Rayleigh's discovery, and a brief description of Rayleigh scattering.
Like other stealth fighters, however, the F-35 is more susceptible to detection by low-frequency radars because of the Rayleigh scattering resulting from the aircraft's physical size.
Rayleigh scattering also explains blue eyes ; there is no blue pigment in blue eyes.