Why does spilt oil look multicoloured?
In: Chemistry
Thin film physics. From what I understand from highschool light can either reflect back when it hits the surface or pass through. If it passes through it will refract sightly as it goes through the thin film of oil and when it reaches the bottom part of the film, there it will reflect back up and hit the top of the film. It will either pass through or reflect back, if it passes through then since it refracted slightly the wavelength changes enough to change the colour. If it reflects it’ll reflect back down, refract a little and the cycle repeats slightly changing the wavelength thus giving us a rainbow of colours
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