What kind of scattering (Rayleigh, Mie, or non-selective) would you expect to be most important when radiation of the specified wavelength encounters the following natural or anthropogenic particles? Slides 16-31, Lecture 2 ought to help - slides 19, 24, and 31 are key.
Wavelength O2 molecules Smoke particles Cloud droplets Rain droplets
(size 10^-10 m) (size 0.3 (μm) (20 μm) (size 3 mm)
550 nm
11 μm
1600 nm
1 cm

Solution :

1. Rayleigh scattering takes place when the particle size is smaller than the wavelength (λ).

2. Mie scattering takes place when particle size is nearly equal to the wavelength (λ).

3. Non-selective scatter takes place when particle size in greater than the wavelength  (λ).

We have the sizes of different particles :

Smoke particles

Cloud droplets

Rain droplets

Wavelength                   Smoke particles    Cloud droplets     Rain droplets

     Rayleigh  Non-selective      Non-selective     Non-selective

        Rayleigh    Rayleigh            Non-selective      Non-selective

   Rayleigh  Non-selective      Non-selective     Non-selective

                Rayleigh      Rayleigh               Rayleigh          Mie

explanation: in any substance/object, the particles inside it (atoms/molecules) constantly move in random directions and with random speeds (this motion is called brownian motion). as a result, the particles have some kinetic energy (which is proportional to the temperature of the substance).

explanation:

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