Apool of water is covered with a film of oil which is 234 nm thick. for what wavelength of visible light (in air) will the reflected light constructively interfere? the index of refraction of the oil is 1.65. visible light (in air) has wavelengths between 430 nm (blue) and 770 nm (red) in air. assume that the incident light is normal to the surface of the oil.

Answer

given,

thickness of the oil film = 234 n m

refractive index of oil = n = 1.65

Visible light (in air) has wavelengths between 430 nm (blue) and 770 nm (red)

λ = ?

condition of constructive interference

2 n t + λ/2 = k λ

now,

at k = 1

not between the visible range

at k =2

above wavelength is in the visible range.

scattering of light by tiny particles in air to produce the colors we see on sky, is dependent on the following factors:

(i) wavelength of light

(ii) size of the scattering particle  

(iii) distance traveled by light through the atmosphere.

according to rayleigh's law of scattering, the amount of scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of its wavelength. shorter the wavelength, greater is its scattering. hence violet/blue light is scattered more than red.

sun's light is a composite light ( visible light) with wavelengths in the range 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red). as sunlight passes through our atmosphere, the molecules of air scatter light according to their wavelengths. during sunrise and sunset, the sun's position is below the horizon. hence light from the sun travels a greater distance in the atmosphere when compared to its position a noon.

as sunlight enters the earth's atmosphere, blue light is scattered away and at the end of its journey in the sky, only red and orange wavelengths remain in the beam.

hence at sunrise and sunset, the sky appears reddish orange.

answer( sicar );