Why is the Sky Blue?

Fill a glass with water, then add a few drops of milk so it becomes a little cloudy.

Darken the room and shine a flashlight through the milky water.

Look into the glass from above.
The picture exaggerates the color a bit - it looks blue, but not neon blue!

The Earth's atmosphere is filled with dust and water drops.  These particles bend the light from the sun, causing it to appear blue.  In this demonstration, the milk provided the particles to bend the light from the flashlight.

At sunset, the angle of refraction changes and you're able to see colors from the other end of the spectrum - reds and oranges.

And, if you've ever watched a sunset in a region where there have been forest fires, you'll notice even more intense colors - more particles (smoke from the fire), causing more refraction. 

Related Posts:

  • Summer Science Camp: Volcano EruptionI'm re-posting this activity, because it works well for a science camp.  Curriculum and time constraints may prevent you from actually building t… Read More
  • Space: Constellation StoriesIf you spend any time studying space, there's probably a good chance you at least touch upon constellations and the legends and myths they are the sub… Read More
  • Moon: Impact CratersDo some hands-on exploring to learn about the ways in which craters are formed.Prep Work:Fill a tub or box (a dishpan or shoebox work well) with an in… Read More
  • Make Your Own Play DohIf you've been following this blog for awhile, you know there are several different activities in which Play Doh is a featured supply.  If you're… Read More
  • Solar System BeadsIn this activity, students create a scale model of the distances between planets and get a feel for just how much space there is in space.  (Note… Read More