Physics

Yes, scattering can occur in any medium where light interacts with particles or irregularities. For example, scattering occurs in colloidal suspensions (like milk in water), glass (if it contains impurities), and even in water bodies with suspended particles.

Scattering can reduce visibility by causing light to be redirected in multiple directions. This is why fog, smog, or haze can make it difficult to see distant objects—light from these objects is scattered before reaching the observer.

Fog lights are typically yellow because longer wavelengths (like yellow light) scatter less than shorter wavelengths (like blue light). This allows yellow light to penetrate fog more effectively, improving visibility in foggy conditions.

At noon, the Sun is overhead, and its light travels through a shorter path in the atmosphere. As a result, all wavelengths of light scatter less, and the Sun appears white because all colors of light are reaching the observer in nearly equal amounts.

Although violet light scatters more than blue light, the sky does not appear violet because the human eye is less sensitive to violet light. Additionally, much of the violet light is absorbed by the upper atmosphere, making blue light more dominant.