The Problem with Thin Films
Thin Film Interference is why gas drips on wet pavement look like rainbows and why soap bubbles have those colors as well. Explaining it is something students often struggle with because there's a lot going on.
It has to do with constructive and destructive interference of rays reflecting off the multiple boundaries, as shown here. The list of variables students came up with that could be important is shown here. For homework, you are to read the section of your textbook on thin films again and then work a problem using the idea.
The Problem with Thin Films
Thin Film Interference is why gas drips on wet pavement look like rainbows and why soap bubbles have those colors as well. Explaining it is something students often struggle with because there's a lot going on.
It has to do with constructive and destructive interference of rays reflecting off the multiple boundaries, as shown here. The list of variables students came up with that could be important is shown here. For homework, you are to read the section of your textbook on thin films again and then work a problem using the idea.