Rayleigh scattering

Rayleigh scattering is the way that light scatters when it hits a very small object. This theory is valid if the wavelength of the light is much bigger than the object. It is named after Lord Rayleigh but was also the work of Raman and Krishnan as it is part of the Raman scattering theory.

Rayleigh Scattering Media

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  Rayleigh scattering causes the blue color of the daytime sky and the reddening of the Sun at sunset.

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  Figure showing the greater proportion of blue light scattered by the atmosphere relative to red light.

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  Scattered blue light is polarized. The picture on the right is shot through a polarizing filter: the polarizer transmits light that is linearly polarized in a specific direction.

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  Rayleigh scattering in opalescent glass: it appears blue from the side, but orange light shines through.