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When sunlight strikes oil on the surface of water, a variety of colors are observed. What is the best explanation for this observation?
Responses
A	Oil reflects the light and the lens of our eyes break it into component colors.Oil reflects the light and the lens of our eyes break it into component colors.
B	Oil has a very high index of refraction, trapping and reflecting the visible spectrum.Oil has a very high index of refraction, trapping and reflecting the visible spectrum.
C	The components of white light are refracted at different angles due to their various wavelengths.The components of white light are refracted at different angles due to their various wavelengths.
D	The visible spectra of white light travel at different speeds, reaching the oil separately so we see the component colors.4 of 104 of 10 Items
05:34

Skip to resources
Question
When sunlight strikes oil on the surface of water, a variety of colors are observed. What is the best explanation for this observation?
Responses
A	Oil reflects the light and the lens of our eyes break it into component colors.Oil reflects the light and the lens of our eyes break it into component colors.
B	Oil has a very high index of refraction, trapping and reflecting the visible spectrum.Oil has a very high index of refraction, trapping and reflecting the visible spectrum.
C	The components of white light are refracted at different angles due to their various wavelengths.The components of white light are refracted at different angles due to their various wavelengths.
D	The visible spectra of white light travel at different speeds, reaching the oil separately so we see the component colors.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The best explanation for the observation of a variety of colors when sunlight strikes oil on the surface of water is:

C. The components of white light are refracted at different angles due to their various wavelengths.

This phenomenon is known as interference and refraction. The oil layer on the water creates a thin film, and as light interacts with this film, different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted and reflected at different angles, leading to the observation of various colors.