Question

Sunsets are red because

larger particles in the air preferentially scatter light of lower frequencies.

smaller particles in the air preferentially scatter light of lower frequencies.

air molecules preferentially scatter light of higher frequencies, leaving behind light of lower frequencies.

orange-red light is reflected more strongly by cloud and other larger particles in the air.

oxygen in the air has a slight orange-red tinge. When light passes through large amounts of air, the oxygen in air filters out light of other colors, leaving behind orange-red light.

Answer 1

air molecules preferentially scatter light of higher frequencies, leaving behind light of lower frequencies.

sunlight passes through more air at sunset and sunrise than during the day, when the sun is higher in the sky. More atmosphere means more molecules to scatter the violet and blue(higher frequencies) light away from your eyes. If the path is long enough, all of the blue and violet light scatters out of your line of sight. The other colors(low frequency) continue on their way to your eyes. This is why sunsets are often yellow, orange, and red.”

And because red has the longest wavelength(smallest frequency) of any visible light, the sun is red when it’s on the horizon, where its extremely long path through the atmosphere blocks all other colors.