The Tyndall effect, also known as Tyndall scattering, is light scattering by particles in a colloid

or else particles in a very fine suspension. It is named after the 19th-century physicist
John Tyndall.

It is caused by reflection of the incident radiation from the surfaces of the particles, reflection
from the interior walls of the particles, and refraction and diffraction of the radiation as it passes
through the particles. Other eponyms include Tyndall beam (the light scattered by colloidal
particles).