When frequency doubles, Rayleigh scattering is?

When frequency doubles, Rayleigh scattering is?

• A. 4 times greater
• B. 8 times greater
• C. 32 times greater
• D. 16 times greater

Answer: (D)

Rayleigh scattering scales with the fourth power of the frequency of the incident light (equivalently, inversely with the fourth power of wavelength). So when the frequency doubles, the scattering increases by 2^4, which is 16 times. This strong f^4 dependence comes from how the electric field drives the particle’s dipole oscillation and how the radiated power from that oscillating dipole scales with frequency. A quick takeaway: shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies) scatter much more than longer ones, which is why blue light scatters more than red. Therefore, doubling the frequency makes Rayleigh scattering sixteen times greater.

Rayleigh scattering scales with the fourth power of the frequency of the incident light (equivalently, inversely with the fourth power of wavelength). So when the frequency doubles, the scattering increases by 2^4, which is 16 times. This strong f^4 dependence comes from how the electric field drives the particle’s dipole oscillation and how the radiated power from that oscillating dipole scales with frequency. A quick takeaway: shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies) scatter much more than longer ones, which is why blue light scatters more than red. Therefore, doubling the frequency makes Rayleigh scattering sixteen times greater.