Knowledge of how aerosols interact with radiation is important due to its significance in the total radiation balance. Different approaches describe the scattering cross section of aerosols with light as a function of the aerosol particle size. We give the basic definition of extinction, scattering coefficient factors, complex refractive indices and, describe different approximations of light-aerosol particles interaction such as the Raleigh approximation, the Mie theory and the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans approximation. In this work we suggest a research-led teaching approach of the light interaction with aerosol particles. This work can be used as a teaching resource for environmental physics instructors to update the curriculum by including recent research results and to help students to understand them. Contextualizing theory for some practical applications, provides an effective strategy for developing an appropriate teaching material.