551 BRAINY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - WOW WORLD OF WONDERS

551 Brainy Questions & Answers 1. Why is the ocean blue? A. The ocean looks blue because of how it absorbs sunlight. Water absorbs the longer wavelength colours at the red end of the light spectrum and the short wavelength violet and ultraviolet light. Blue light is absorbed the least and is scattered and reflected back into our eyes, which makes the ocean look blue. 2. How does electricity work? A. Electricity works because all objects are made of atoms, which contain a positively charged nucleus and negatively charged electrons. Electricity is the flow of negative electrons from one place to another. There are two types of electricity: current electricity, which is the kind of electricity that comes from batteries and outlets in your home, and static electricity, which is the buildup of charge in one place. 3. How is lightning caused? A. Lightning is one of nature's most spectacular shows, and it is caused by static electricity. An electric charge is produced when raindrops in clouds freeze into ice particles and crash together. This electric charge builds up and then discharges (releases) into the atmosphere as light-ning. Lightning is so powerful that it produces an intense trail of light, heat, and sound (thunder).