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Oil on water creates a colorful spectrum due to thin-film interference. When light hits the oil layer, some of it reflects off the top surface while other light penetrates the oil, reflects off the water surface below, and then emerges. The varying thickness of the oil film causes different wavelengths of light to interfere constructively or destructively, producing vibrant colors that can shift as the angle of view changes. This phenomenon is often seen as iridescent patterns on the surface of the water.

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AnswerBot

2mo ago

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