0
$\begingroup$

Is it because of

  • refraction of light in water?

  • a mixture of UV rays in sunlight?

  • polarization of reflected light?

  • interference of light reflected from external and internal film surface?

  • or maybe dependence of the refractive index of soap and water on the wavelength of light?

Help me out because all of these sound promising, but I can't decide which is true.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ This is a very common exemple of thin film interference. There are a lot of resources about it. $\endgroup$
    – ErickShock
    Commented Oct 11, 2019 at 13:18
  • $\begingroup$ what do you mean? $\endgroup$
    – Undergraduate Wannabe
    Commented Oct 11, 2019 at 13:42

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0
$\begingroup$

The colours are indeed caused by interference effects. The thickness of the skin of a soap bubble is not constant over its surface, and nor is its radius of curvature. The variations are time-dependent, as the bubble changes its shape in response to fluctuations in local air speed etc. Each of those factors causes continuous variations in the interference effects, which is why you observe a continuously varying mix of colours.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.