A thin layer of oil on the surface of water looks coloured due to:
Correct answer: C. Interference of light
- A. Polarisation of light
- B. Different elements present in the oil
- C. Interference of light
- D. The transmission of light
Explanation
When light strikes the thin oil film on water, some of it is reflected from the top surface and some of it is reflected from the oil-water interface. These two reflected rays interfere with each other, leading to certain colors being enhanced or canceled out, resulting in the colored appearance.
Last updated
About Optics
Light is studied through reflection, refraction, dispersion, interference, diffraction and polarization, linking ray behavior with its wave nature. Questions may involve mirrors, lenses, optical instruments, refractive index and image formation, while geometrical optics deals with rays and wave optics explains effects such as interference and diffraction.
Practise Optics
665 free Optics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 7 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
Related questions
8If the two sound waves produce beats, it is necessary that the two have:
A 16 cm long image of an object is formed by a convex lens on a screen placed normal to its principal axis. On moving the lens towards the screen, without changing the positions of the object and the screen, a 9 cm long image is formed again on the screen. The size of the object is:
A 4 cm high object is located 10 cm from the converging lens, whose focal length is 20 cm. The image so formed will be
A beam of electrons can
A beam of electrons can: