In a thin film interference pattern, what happens to the colors observed as the angle of incidence increases?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In a thin film interference pattern, what happens to the colors observed as the angle of incidence increases?
Colors become more vivid
Colors disappear
Colors shift
Colors remain unchanged
As the angle of incidence increases, the effective path difference changes, causing a shift in the observed colors.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In a thin film interference pattern, what happens to the colors observed as the angle of incidence increases?
Solution: As the angle of incidence increases, the effective path difference changes, causing a shift in the observed colors.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that thin film interference occurs when light reflects off the top and bottom surfaces of a thin film, like soap or oil.
Step 2: Know that different colors of light correspond to different wavelengths.
Step 3: Realize that when light hits the film at an angle, the path that light travels changes.
Step 4: As the angle of incidence (the angle at which light hits the film) increases, the distance the light travels inside the film changes.
Step 5: This change in distance creates a different 'path difference' between the light reflecting off the top and bottom surfaces.
Step 6: The change in path difference affects which colors interfere constructively (combine to be brighter) and which interfere destructively (cancel each other out).
Step 7: As a result, you will see a shift in the colors that are visible as the angle of incidence increases.
