A scientist notices that an oil slick floating on water when viewed from above has many different colors reflecting off the surface, making it look rainbow-like (an effect known as iridescence). She aims a spectrometer at a particular spot and measures the wavelength to be 750 nm (in air). The index of refraction of water is 1.33.

Question

Corbin Gillespie

Physics

31 July, 06:08

A scientist notices that an oil slick floating on water when viewed from above has many different colors reflecting off the surface, making it look rainbow-like (an effect known as iridescence). She aims a spectrometer at a particular spot and measures the wavelength to be 750 nm (in air). The index of refraction of water is 1.33.

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Emily Swanson · Answer 1

a. we can say it is constructive interference

b. there is a phase shift in the air-oil interface

c. there is a phase shift in the oil-water interface

d. wavelenght in oil=625nm

Explanation:

A scientist notices that an oil slick floating on water when viewed from above has many different colors reflecting off the surface, making it look rainbow-like (an effect known as iridescence). She aims a spectrometer at a particular spot and measures the wavelength to be 750 nm (in air). The index of refraction of water is 1.33.

The question seems incomplete, but there are backup questions that can be asked to make it more cohesive

1. is it destructive or constructive interference?

we can say it is constructive from the parameters given

2. Is there a phase shift at the air-oil interface?

yes, because the refractive index of oil is greater than that of the air

3. is there a phase shift at the oil-water interface.

yes, because the refractive index of water is greater than that of oil

4. what is the wavelength of light in oil

refractive index of air-oil (n) = wavelength in air/wavelength in oil

1.2=750/w. oil

w. oil=625nm

refractive index is the ratio of wavelength in medium A to that of the wavelength in medium B