Question

    A soap bubble shows colours when illuminated with white light. This is due to –

    A Diffraction Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B Polarization Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C Interference Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D Reflection Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    The iridescent colours of soap bubbles are caused by interfering of (internally and externally) reflected light waves and are determined by the thickness of the film. This phenomenon is not the same as the origin of rainbow colours (caused by the refraction of internally reflected light), but rather are the same as the phenomenon causing the colours in an oil slick on a wet road.

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