In a thin film of oil on water, which color of light will be most prominently reflected if the film thickness is such that it causes constructive interference?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In a thin film of oil on water, which color of light will be most prominently reflected if the film thickness is such that it causes constructive interference?
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
The color that is most prominently reflected depends on the thickness of the film and the wavelength of light. Typically, shorter wavelengths (like blue) are more affected by thin films.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In a thin film of oil on water, which color of light will be most prominently reflected if the film thickness is such that it causes constructive interference?
Solution: The color that is most prominently reflected depends on the thickness of the film and the wavelength of light. Typically, shorter wavelengths (like blue) are more affected by thin films.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand that a thin film of oil on water can reflect light.
Step 2: Know that different colors of light have different wavelengths.
Step 3: Recognize that constructive interference happens when certain wavelengths of light reinforce each other.
Step 4: Realize that thinner films tend to affect shorter wavelengths (like blue) more than longer wavelengths (like red).
Step 5: Conclude that if the film thickness is right for constructive interference, the color that will be most prominently reflected is likely to be blue.
