The oil patches on roads that occur due to leakage from vehicles appe...
Interference
Interference is the phenomenon that causes the oil patches on roads to display many colors. When light waves reflect off the surface of the oil patch, they undergo interference. This interference occurs when two or more light waves overlap, resulting in a new wave pattern.
Explanation
- The oil on the road acts as a thin film, which reflects light waves.
- As light waves reflect off the top and bottom surfaces of the oil film, they interfere with each other.
- Depending on the thickness of the oil film, certain wavelengths of light will interfere constructively, resulting in bright colors, while others will interfere destructively, leading to dark areas.
- This interference of light waves produces the colorful patterns seen in oil patches on roads.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the colors seen in oil patches on roads are a result of interference, where light waves reflect off the thin film of oil and interfere with each other. This phenomenon explains the vibrant and varied colors that are often observed in oil patches.