Why Does Snow Look So Bright White?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does snow look so bright white?

The Big Idea

Fresh snow can look dazzling on a sunny day! A snowflake is a tiny ice crystal with lots of flat, shiny sides. Snow bounces back almost all the colors of sunlight, and that is why snow looks bright white!

Sunlight Arrives

Step one: sunlight arrives. Sunlight looks white, but it is a mix of all the rainbow colors. All of those colors land on the snow.

Crystals Bounce It

Step two: the crystals bounce it. Snow is made of countless tiny ice crystals with many little faces. Light hits them and bounces and scatters in every direction.

Eyes See White

Step three: your eyes see white. Snow does not soak up much color, so almost all the colors bounce back to your eyes. When all the colors arrive together, we see bright white!

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at a sunny snowy field! Sunlight shines down on the snow. Tiny crystals have many shiny little faces. They scatter the light all around. Sunglasses protect your eyes from the glare. Snow is like a giant, sparkly mirror party for sunlight. That is why snowy days can be so glaring, and why people ski and sled with sunglasses or goggles.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Snow is made of tiny ice crystals. Snow bounces back most of the colors in sunlight. Bright snow can hurt your eyes if you do not wear sunglasses. Each ice crystal is clear, but a pile of them looks white.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Let's protect our eyes. Wear sunglasses on sunny snow days. Look closely at snow, and watch it sparkle. Compare it to a clear ice cube. And never stare at the Sun.

Outro

Snow looks white because it bounces all the light back. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!