The origin of soap film colors, image copyright Bill May 1998

A color illustration which shows how the removal of some wavelengths of light from the spectrum produces the colors observed in soap films. The colors are removed when the reflection of their wavelengths is canceled by the reflection of light with different phases from the back and the front of the soap film.

This illustration was created by Bill May.

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Scientific Explorations with Paul Doherty

© 1999

17 Apr 99