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Light Scattering
Uri Lachish, guma science
Years ago I looked for a job and went to an interview in a company. There
were two men, one young and one old. The younger man did the talking and
the older man just sat there listened and said nothing.
The young man started by asking if I knew how the intensity of scattered light
depend on the light frequency. I knew the answer for that and said that the
intensity is proportional to the fourth power of the frequency. (See: Light
Scattering).
I then made a critical mistake and asked him if he happened to know why is
that.
He said: "Why What?"
I said: "Why fourth power, why not third or sixth?"
He thought for a moment and then said: "That's how it is in the formula."
To add sin to crime I said: "Yes, but what is the physical reason?"
He didn't know and I said my opinion about that.
He then stopped asking questions and took me for a tour of the company.
Later someone told me that the older man refused that I will join them.
I went to another interview, didn't repeat my mistake, and got a job in a better
company, at least, better for me.
So, why is the intensity of scattered light proportional to the fourth power of
the light frequency?
On the net: August, 2011.