This phenomenon is called the scattering of light. For example, the sky is a material medium with particles such as dust particles, water droplets (in clouds). Light is scattered extensively in the atmosphere. This primarily is the reason for the sky being blue in colour and the sun looking red at sunrise and sunset.

Scattering of light is the phenomenon in which light rays get deviated from its straight path on striking an obstacle like dust or gas molecules, water vapours etc. The colors we see in the sky are due to scattering of light.

Examples of scattering – example Red colour of sun at sunrise and sunset. White colour of sky at noon. Blue colour of sky. Red colour used as danger signal.

Applications: The sky appears blue during a clear cloudless day because the molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light. During sunrise and sunset, the sky appears red and orange because the blue light has been scattered out and away from the line of sight.

scattering of light depends upon the wavelength of light . lesser wavelength lights scatter more. and more wavelengths lights scatter less. in space there is no atmosphere so there is no refraction in space so it is dark.

The colour of the scattered light depends on the size of the scattering particles in the atmosphere: The larger particles of dust and water droplets present in the atmosphere scatter the light as much due to which the scattered light also appears white.

wavelength