Wonderful whys · 41/50 · Ages 8–10
Did someone paint the sky blue?
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Fox looks up and jokes that Owl painted the sky overnight. The daytime sky has a real explanation involving sunlight and the air around Earth.
What you will discover
- Air scatters sunlight; shorter blue wavelengths scatter more strongly than red ones.
- Sunlight contains many colors even though it often looks white.
English vocabulary
- sky
- bầu trời
- light
- ánh sáng
Let’s play
What helps make the daytime sky look blue?
- Blue paint on the clouds
- Air scattering sunlight
- A giant blue lamp
See the explanation
The air scatters blue light strongly. No sky painter is needed.
Practise touch typing
Place your hands on F and J and type this sentence using ten fingers.
The air scatters blue light across the sky.
Two little quiz questions
1. Does sunlight contain only yellow light?
- No, it contains many colors
- Yes
- Only at lunchtime
Answer and explanation
No, it contains many colors. White sunlight includes a mixture of colors.
2. Which scatters more strongly in this explanation?
- Blue than red
- Red than blue
- Neither color exists
Answer and explanation
Blue than red. Shorter blue wavelengths scatter more strongly.
Read more with an adult: NASA Space Place: Why is the sky blue?