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Why is the sky blue?

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Re: Why is the sky blue?

#211

Post by Nevermark »

margalabargala wrote: post #12
RupertSalt wrote: post #6

Obligatory xkcd: "Sky Color" https://m.xkcd.com/1145/ Obligatory xkcd[2]: "Rayleigh Scattering" https://m.xkcd.com/1818/ Others?

The "Rayleigh Scattering" comic is really spot on. Air is blue. The reason air is blue is blah blah blah physics, see the article we're all commenting on, but at the end of the day air is blue. We don't demand the same elaborate physics questions for why a ripe banana peel is yellow.

Color can be due to reflection, emission, filtering.

The sky is not blue for the same reasons that a banana is yellow.

But the reasons behind color in both cases is interesting regardless.

Re: Why is the sky blue?

#213

Post by raincole »

Brajeshwar wrote: post #212

This is the kinda website I’d love to subscribe and follow. Unfortunately, this is the only article for now. And it has no RSS (neither Newsletter).

Ditto. I just finished it and thought wow I hope everything was explained to me like this. Hope this site goes well.

Re: Why is the sky blue?

#214

Post by absynth »

Why is the sky blue?

rayleigh scattering.

what's that?

light from sun bouncing around.

why?

because it does.

why is it blue though?

green was taken.

why?

do you want chocolate or raspberry icecream?

chocolate!

yay!

(No, this isn't the best way. But it was A way and that was enough. The kid became a physics lecturer.)

Re: Why is the sky blue?

#215

Post by pas »

leeoniya wrote: post #93
SAI_Peregrinus wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd probably spend at least 20 minutes just to get through how the keyboard works, much more if it's a USB-HID device.

the good ones would usually follow up with, "how much detail do you _really_ want ;D"

I always wanted to talk about our lord and savior (BGP) but so far no one took the bait!

Re: Why is the sky blue?

#216

Post by thombat »

erikdkennedy wrote: post #46
munificent wrote: post #41

Really cool article! Tangential: > “Scattering” is the scientific term of art for molecules deflecting photons. Linguistically, it’s used somewhat inconsistently. You’ll hear both “blue light scatters more” (the subject is the light) and “atmospheric molecules scatter blue light more” (the subject is the molecule). In any case, they means the same thing There's nothing ambiguous or inconsistent about this. In English…

TIL! Debates whether to update the sidenote with an explainer on ambitransitive and labile verbs

Please do! It will fit the spirit of your splendid post, unpacking the complexity of a thing we take for granted (at least as native English speakers)

Re: Why is the sky blue?

#218

Post by jongjong »

I noticed once I took a ferry ride at night in a big city and one of the buildings had a company name written on it with bright blue lights and I couldn't read it; too blurry. I couldn't focus my eyes... And I have perfect vision. I had no issues with other colors. Not sure if it's something to do with my eyes specifically or human eyes in general or because of this effect associated with the blue color.

Re: Why is the sky blue?

#219

Post by srean »

ccozan wrote: post #107
srean wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah! That's not bad but it's not the same thing. Good nevertheless. I can 'show' (or point someone to a) a sight that I am not myself creating in anyway. The word I am looking for would mean to 'make you hear' in the same may to show is to make you see. I showed him the distant tower. I ??? him the faint sound.

play? I played him the faint sound.

Yes that will indeed work in a few cases.

Re: Why is the sky blue?

#220

Post by srean »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #154
srean wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah! That's not bad but it's not the same thing. Good nevertheless. I can 'show' (or point someone to a) a sight that I am not myself creating in anyway. The word I am looking for would mean to 'make you hear' in the same may to show is to make you see. I showed him the distant tower. I ??? him the faint sound.

You appear to be looking for the word show , which is not specific to visual phenomena.

I see (pun intended)
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