Blue, Indigo, and Violet Light Scattering in the Atmosphere

What molecules in the air scatter the blue, indigo, and violet frequencies?

A. water
B. nitrogen and oxygen
C. nitrogen and hydrogen
D. oxygen and hydrogen

Final answer:

The molecules in the air that scatter the blue, indigo, and violet frequencies are nitrogen and oxygen (option B). When sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths of blue, indigo, and violet light are scattered more easily than the longer wavelengths of red, orange, and yellow light.

Explanation:

The molecules in the air that scatter the blue, indigo, and violet frequencies are nitrogen and oxygen (option B).

When sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, it interacts with the molecules in the air. The shorter wavelengths of blue, indigo, and violet light are scattered more easily than the longer wavelengths of red, orange, and yellow light

The scattering of these shorter wavelengths is primarily caused by the molecules of nitrogen and oxygen in the air.