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The colors on an oil slick are caused by reflection and (explain why) a. Diffraction b....

The colors on an oil slick are caused by reflection and (explain why)

a. Diffraction
b. Interference
c. Refraction
d. Polarization
e. Ionization

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Answer #1

The answer is b) Interference

Reason -
Light Reflects from the top of the oil surface and from the bottom surface.The path length of light is different depending upon whether the light comes from top of the surface or form the bottom. (Here Path length is distance from reflection point to your eye.) Now, If the difference in path length is an integral multiple of of the wavelength of light then rays reflected from two points will strengthen each other, a process called Constructive interfernce , colours are visible , while if the reflected rays reach eye out of step then destructive interference occurs in which colours will not be observed. Thus due to different thickness of oil film at different points, causes different colours to be seen.

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