What is the equation used to define Rayleigh scattering?

Rayleigh scattering is defined by the phenomenon where the scattering intensity is dependent on the frequency of the light used. Specifically, the intensity of Rayleigh scattering varies with the fourth power of frequency. This relationship is derived from the underlying physics, where the scattering of light by particles much smaller than the wavelength of light results in scattering that is proportional to the frequency to the fourth power. This means that as the frequency of the light increases, the amount of scattering increases significantly, illustrating how certain wavelengths (or frequencies) are scattered more than others.

This characteristic of Rayleigh scattering is significant in various applications, including explaining why the sky appears blue. Shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies) scatter more effectively than longer wavelengths (lower frequencies), resulting in a predominance of scattered blue light in the atmosphere. Thus, the correct definition of Rayleigh scattering being proportional to frequency to the fourth power reinforces the fundamental principles of acoustics and optics in understanding wave interactions with matter.