Scattering of light by dust particles

In summary, when the whole window is open, dust particles are not visible because the background is also bright and small dots are hard to see against a bright background. This is similar to how stars and planets are only visible at night due to the darkness, but can sometimes be seen during the day.
  • #1
Pushoam
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TL;DR Summary
Inside a dark room, when light comes through a hole, we see the dust particles as the particles scatter the light. But, when the whole window is open, we don't see the dust particles scattering the light. Why?
Inside a dark room, when light comes through a hole, we see the dust particles as the particles scatter the light. But, when the whole window is open, we don't see the dust particles scattering the light. Why?
 
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  • #2
Because when the whole window is available the background is also bright and small bright dots are hard to see against a bright background.
 
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  • #3
Pushoam said:
when the whole window is open, we don't see the dust particles scattering the light.
I have seen dust particles scattering light many times in a room with an open window.
 
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  • #4
Its the same reason you can see stars (and planets) only at night, although sometimes one can see Venus and or the Moon in the daylight (to which @Dale alludes above.
 
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  • #5
Thanks to all.
 
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