Normally we see things due to the light reflected by or scattered by the objects. Considering this premise, how are we able to see the light beam from a torch or a search lamp? Can any one explain from where is the light scattered or reflected there? Is it due to some other phenomena, can any one through some light please?
Agree to Kirk, if you go up to high altitudes were the air is thinner you cant see the scattering anymore. I witnessed this up at Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Orange laser of Keck observatory didnt look that impressive ;)
Maybe use canned air instead of making a mess with the hair spray - the propellant will do the trick
It is just scattered light off dust, water, bacteria and other microscopic matter in the atmosphere. Same reason you can "see" a laser beam in the air. Prove it to yourself by spraying a can of hair spray in a beam or light of laser beam to see the light scatter like mad. This is Mie scattering (as opposed to Rayleigh scattering off of molecules, which is why the sky is blue).
Agree to Kirk, if you go up to high altitudes were the air is thinner you cant see the scattering anymore. I witnessed this up at Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Orange laser of Keck observatory didnt look that impressive ;)
Maybe use canned air instead of making a mess with the hair spray - the propellant will do the trick
A torch, because of its high temperature is a primary source of light, just like the Sun, which is mainly, the primary source of light in our solar system. (Suggestion: research on black body radiation and emission of electromagnetic radiation by atoms and molecules.)
Its exactly like the colleques explained. You see the primary "original" light. One good example ist the sun or moon light. Leave the atmosphere like the astronauts do you will still see the light of stars and planets or galaxies. Electromagnetic waves (or if you prefer photons) pass the vacuum and are detected if they hit the detector like our eyes.
If you have a look on a light source there are two components. The direct light first. If you hide the light source you will still detect the scattered light (Mie scattering by particles like dust, Raleigh scattering by atoms or molecules of the atmosphere). You find an informing article in wikipedia "Mie scattering". This scattering builds a kind of halo around the primary sources or eg. a laser beam. If you are in vacuum you have no scattered light. So you wont see a laser beam passing you except when you have a direct glance at it.
Very much agree with the above answer but if there is a dark room and hen we on the torch it is possible to see the beam. But on the same path the beam of light which comes from tube light is not visible..can any one explain it?
@Jay: Dont understand your question. WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE to see the torch? You wont se the light of any source without direct glace, refection or scattering. So the empty room where yor do your experiment will be dark for you.
@jay!
I think I´ve cought your problem. The torch produces material by burning substancies - smoke, particels, other micro substances. These substances scatter and reflect. Your Neon tube can´t.
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