In an experiment similar to the one you performed in Week 3, an experimenter measures the count rate of a radioactive element 100 times, calculates the mean and standard deviation of the data, and organizes the data into four bins: Interval Number of Occurrences n < n 15 < n < n 50 - 15 n < n < + 38 n > + 12 The experimenter expects a Gaussian distribution. (For simplicity, assume 68 % of the counts fall within one standard deviation of the mean rather than the more exact value of 68.27 \%.) What is x?

scattering of light by tiny particles in air to produce the colors we see on sky, is dependent on the following factors:

(i) wavelength of light

(ii) size of the scattering particle  

(iii) distance traveled by light through the atmosphere.

according to rayleigh's law of scattering, the amount of scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of its wavelength. shorter the wavelength, greater is its scattering. hence violet/blue light is scattered more than red.

sun's light is a composite light ( visible light) with wavelengths in the range 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red). as sunlight passes through our atmosphere, the molecules of air scatter light according to their wavelengths. during sunrise and sunset, the sun's position is below the horizon. hence light from the sun travels a greater distance in the atmosphere when compared to its position a noon.

as sunlight enters the earth's atmosphere, blue light is scattered away and at the end of its journey in the sky, only red and orange wavelengths remain in the beam.

hence at sunrise and sunset, the sky appears reddish orange.

the answer is 12 as i may remember

: )