Tyndall Effect

The Tyndall effect is the visible scattering of light by suspended particles in a medium. It is commonly observed when a light beam passes through fog, smoke, or colloidal suspensions and the beam path becomes visible from the side.

Physical interpretation

• Scattering strength depends on particle size, wavelength, and concentration.
• In the atmosphere, it is most evident when aerosols or cloud droplets scatter incident light.
• It is distinct from molecular-scale Rayleigh scattering, which dominates clear-sky blue color.

Relevance for atmospheric notes

The effect is useful for understanding qualitative visibility changes in haze and fog conditions and is closely related to Atmospheric Scattering.

See also: Atmospheric Scattering