Scattering refers to the process by which particles, waves, or radiation are deflected or diffused in various directions due to interactions with other particles or obstacles. This phenomenon is commonly observed in physics, particularly in optics and particle physics, where light or other forms of energy change direction as they encounter matter. Examples include Rayleigh scattering, which explains why the sky appears blue, and Mie scattering, which involves larger particles and can explain the white appearance of clouds.