UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
Why snow looks white while water is colorless?
Question Date: 2012-10-27
Answer 1:

Water is colorless and transparent because it does not absorb any wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum. In order for a substance to have a color, it will absorb, emit, or reflect certain wavelengths. In the case of snow, which is made up of ice crystals, it reflects all of the light in the visible spectrum evenly, so you see white light reflected from it.



Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use