Quartz Slide Presentation: Diffraction in an Oil Slick

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Diffraction in an Oil Slick

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$Diffraction in an Oil Slick$

Perhaps this principle can be best visualized by viewing a thin film of oil floating on dark water. Light is reflected off the top and bottom layers of the oil film and a rainbow effect appears. The thickness of the oil film determines how wide the color bands appear, just as the layering in a crystal such as quartz determines the angel of diffraction.

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