Question

It is difficult to see through the fog because (A) light is scattered by the droplets in the fog. (B) fog absorbs light. (C) refractive index of fog is infinity. (D) light suffers total internal refection.

Short answer

(A) light is scattered by the droplets in the fog.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Options

First, let's take a look at each of the given options: (A) light is scattered by the droplets in the fog. (B) fog absorbs light. (C) refractive index of fog is infinity. (D) light suffers total internal reflection.

Analyze Option A

Fog is made up of tiny water droplets suspended in the air, which can interact with light. When light hits water droplets, the droplets act as a scattering center for the light. The light gets scattered in different directions, which makes it difficult for us to see clearly through the fog.

Analyze Option B

Fog doesn't absorb a significant amount of light. If it did, we wouldn't be able to see anything in foggy conditions. Instead, what makes fog difficult to see through is the scattering of light.

Analyze Option C

The refractive index of a material represents the speed at which light travels through the material, compared to the speed of light in a vacuum. A refractive index of infinity would mean that light does not propagate through the material at all. However, we know that light does travel through fog, albeit with difficulty, so this explanation is not correct.

Analyze Option D

Total internal reflection occurs when light tries to pass from one medium to another medium with a lower refractive index, at an angle greater than the critical angle. In this situation, the light is completely reflected within the first medium. This phenomenon does not explain the difficulty in seeing through fog, as the light is not reflected back but rather scattered.

Choose the Correct Answer

Based on our understanding of each option, we can see that option (A) - "light is scattered by the droplets in the fog" - best explains why it is difficult to see through fog. So, the correct answer is: (A) light is scattered by the droplets in the fog.