preview

How Does Oil Make Rainbows On Water

Decent Essays

Light works in many strange and mysterious ways. Most people recognize the basic properties of light that they see in front of them, like that light bends in water and reflects off of certain surfaces. However, few stop to consider explanations behind these phenomena. Few question light, or in fact, question any natural laws. An interesting feature of light that few truly wonder about is the beautiful reflections of colors in puddles of water with oil on them. The colors that oil creates when it lies on top of water seems like a fact of life to many people; they never question it. That said, questioning these simple facts can lead to a better understanding of the world around us, and teaches people to think critically of what surrounds them; learning about why oil makes rainbows on water can help instill thinking patterns that help people in all walks of life. Light reflecting off of oil on the surface of water functions in much the same way that light reflecting off of the front and back surfaces of glass does. When light goes reflects off of glass, depending on the thickness of the glass, a different percentage of the light reflects. This percentage can range from zero to sixteen percent. As the glass gets thicker and thicker, it becomes clear that the amount of light reflected works in a cycle. The amount of reflected light starts at zero percent and becomes greater and greater till it is at sixteen percent, and then it goes back down to zero percent. This cycle repeats

Get Access