A group of students took an old shoe box and covered it with a black paper from all sides. They fixed a source of light (a torch) at one end of the box by making a hole in it and made another hole on the other side to view the light. They placed a milk sample contained in a beaker/tumbler in the box as shown in the figure. They were amazed to see that milk taken in the tumbler was illuminated. They tried the same activity by taking a salt solution but found that light simply passed through it
- Explain why the milk sample was illuminated. Name the phenomenon involved.
- Same results were not observed with a salt solution. Explain.
- Can you suggest two more solutions which would show the same effect as shown by the
milk solution?
Answer: - Milk is a colloid. If a beam of light is put on a milk sample contained in a beaker, the path of light beam is illuminated and becomes visible when seen from the other side. This is because the colloidal particles are big enough to scatter light falling on them. This scattered light enters our eyes and we are able to see the path of light beam.
The scattering of light by colloidal particles is known as Tyndall effect. - Salt solution is a true solution. If a beam of light is put on a salt solution kept in a beaker in a dark
room, the path of light beam is not visible inside the solution when seen from the other side. This is because salt particles present in it are so small that they cannot scatter light rays falling on them. - Detergent solution, sulphur solution.