From the year, 1666 to 1672, Newton conducted several experiments with the prism and sunlight to recognise the true colour of sunlight. However, he was quite successful in determining the colour of the sun to be white which is seen as a combination of the seven respective colours we experience in a rainbow. With the help of a prism, the experiment has been conducted and through the prism the sunlight is passed which is then dispersed into seven colours.
Sunlight is the ray of light that is produced by the sun following the reaction of nuclear fusion. In nuclear fusion, the atomic nuclei of considerably low atomic number tend to fuse with another nucleus to form a mass of heavier nucleus resulting in the release of a huge amount of energy (Esposito, 2020). This type of phenomenon occurs within the Sun, resulting in the fusion of hydrogen atoms to the formation of helium atoms. Thus, as hydrogen mass converts, it releases white light.
It is noticed that the colour of the sun is white, however, by conducting several experiments in the field of physics it is noticed that the white light is a combination of all seven colours. When the white coloured sunlight is being passed through a prism, then the light gets dispersed into seven colours (Smith, 2021). This is the reason why we are able to see several colours around us.
Seven colours are present within the white beam of sunlight that includes, namely, red, orange, yellow, green, violet, indigo and blue. All these are evidenced when the rainbow comes out in the bright sky. The reason behind this is due to the phenomenon of the refraction of light.
White light is the combination of seven colours, the colours we find in a rainbow called the VIBGYOR. The phenomenon that results in such dispersion is known as the dispersion of light. Based on this phenomenon, the white light gets scattered and results in the splitting of light catering to their respective refractive index and their wavelengths (Wtamu.edu, 2022). However, the red colour having the longer wavelengths tends to have the least bents, whereas, violet colours tend to bend the most while traversing as it has shorter wavelengths.
Spectrum is known as the set of colours, that are generated due to the segregation of components of light based on their wavelengths. This is also used to classify the positions that define the two extreme points. However, this helps in providing the range of emission of energies determining the intensity of light.
The seven colours fall under the spectrum of visible light that we see during the phenomenon of dispersion of white-coloured sunlight. However, this range of the electromagnetic spectrum is used for many purposes, such as it is used for services of weather radio, and systems of voice and radar communications. This is also used in both private and commercial usages for aeronautical purposes and traffic in maritime. However, it is to be noted that the human eye only perceives the range of visible light that ranges from wavelengths of 380 to 750 nanometers.
The main cause that is associated with changes in different colours of the sun throughout the day is the presence of atmospheres all around the earth. The atmosphere is made up of several glasses that include, Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen and dust and smoke particles that result in the further scattering of lights by the sun.
During the daytime, the sky seems blue and the sun looks yellow as the sunlight suffers interference of the least amount as the sun stays direct, whereas, at sunrise, the sun remains at the furthest and lights need to travel through more interferences.
In this tutorial, an intensive discussion has been made that relates to the phenomenon of the sunlight is white. In our daily life, we experience several such experiences that determine that white light is the combination of seven respective colours that fall under the range of visible lights under the electromagnetic spectrum of light. To our human eye only the visible range of light is perceived and for that reason, we see several colours that are composed of these seven major colours of a VIBGYOR.
Q.1. Why is the colour of the sky blue?
Ans. The colour of the sky seems to be blue as it follows the phenomenon of Rayleigh scattering. In this phenomenon, the scattering occurs for light having a smaller wavelength or commonly known to be electromagnetic radiation. The light of the sun is scattered due to the presence of dust particles within the atmosphere and also being to have the smallest wavelengths. Therefore, the colour of the sky seems blue as it has the shortest wavelengths.
Q.2. What is the phenomenon of light generated by the sun?
Ans. It is known that the sun is made up of huge quantities of helium and hydrogen and thus produces a massive amount of energy from the core due to nuclear fusion. The process of nuclear fusion results in the formation of light when nuclei of hydrogen combine to form a single atom of helium.
Q.3. Who discovered the light of the sun to be white?
Ans. During the time of the year 1660s, Isaac Newton started a series of experiments with the prisms and the sunlight. This further led to the discovery of sunlight being white. He demonstrated such experiments with the help of scattering sunlight into seven visible colours.
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