Aerosol Activity: Scattering of Light

Materials:

overhead projector, clear drinking cups, water, powdered coffee creamer, eye dropper
(milk, 2%milk, and even skim milk can be used to compare the similarities in aerosols)

Procedure:

In one cup, mix a little water with the powdered coffee creamer. Set aside to use later with the
eye dropper.

Fill several clear drinking cups with equal amounts of water.

Show the cup of water and discuss the clarity. Add one drop of the coffee creamer mixture. Discuss what it looks like and compare to large particle aerosols in the atmosphere.

Set the cup on top of the overhead projector so that the light is projected through the cup. Discuss differences seen in looking at the cup while held in your hand and in viewing it on the overhead.

Continue adding the coffee creamer mixture drop by drop, mixing after each drop, and discussing any color changes.

The mixture will eventually appear a red/amber/brown color when viewed with the overhead projector. Use this to compare with sunsets which are made more colorful by aerosols in the atmosphere.  

When viewed straight on, the cup will appear a bluish/white color (Mie Scattering) and the light transmitted
through the cup will appear red/amber/brown due to Rayleigh Scattering.