Does light refraction play a role in bubble iridescence?

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SUMMARY

The discussion confirms that light refraction significantly contributes to bubble iridescence alongside wave interference. When light enters a soap bubble, it refracts due to the change in medium from air to the soap film. This refraction, combined with internal reflection at the second surface of the bubble, affects the optical path length and results in varying wavelengths of light that interfere constructively, creating the observed colors. The angle of refraction is crucial in determining these effects.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wave interference principles
  • Knowledge of light refraction and Snell's Law
  • Familiarity with optical path length concepts
  • Basic principles of optics and light behavior in different media
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  • Research Snell's Law and its applications in optics
  • Explore the principles of wave interference in detail
  • Study the optical properties of thin films and their effects on light
  • Investigate the physics of soap bubbles and their color formation
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Karagoz
We know interference of waves play a role in causing "colors" on soap bubbles.

But does light refraction play a role in bubble iridescence?

When the light wave travels into the soap bubble surface, won't it refract since the wave is into a different matter (what matter the soap bubble surface is made of)?
 
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What do you mean by "break"?

Refraction will occur but a soap bubble film is quite thin so the colours aren't separated very much.
 
Karagoz said:
When the light wave travels into the soap bubble surface, won't it refract since the wave is into a different matter (what matter the soap bubble surface is made of)?

Yes. Then it internally reflects off the second soap bubble surface, refracts back into air and interferes with the light that reflected off the first bubble surface. The angle of refraction will determine the optical path length of the light in the bubble material and therefore the wavelength of the light that undergoes constructively interference.

Just curious why you are asking this.
 

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