Eli5: where do photons “go” when scattered?

186 viewsOtherPlanetary Science

For example, when using your phone in areas of low service and the internet is slow or call audio quality is poor, what is happening to the radio / microwaves in transmission to your device?

In: Planetary Science

4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Photons just bounce around or get absorbed. Sometimes those mother truckers go right on through a molecule. Think visible light through glass. So, when molecules are stimulated by energy they either get physically bumped and spun or the bonds absorb the energy and it vibrates more or the mother trucking said photon goes right through the molecule like idk. In a typical science fashion all of the above usually happens but you have to ask what type of energy is most likely to agitate the molecule and how. Or what frequency of wave whatever you get it

You are viewing 1 out of 4 answers, click here to view all answers.