Animate
A ray of light is incident from air (blue) on a thin film (yellow). The film is deposited on a transparent medium (gray). Light is reflected from the upper and lower surfaces of the film. The reflected rays interfere. (Grid units are 100 nm.) The phase difference between the reflected rays is given in units of wavelengths. Playing the animation will increase the wavelength by the selected increment. The default values for wavelength and increment will advance the wavelengths through the range of visible light.
1. Rank the media in order of increasing index of refraction. What evidence do you have for your choice?
2. Based on your rankings, which of the reflected rays, if either, undergo phase reversal on reflection?
3. Determine to the nearest nanometer the wavelength of visible light, if any, that undergoes complete constructive interference for the given film thickness an an angle of incidence of 0 degrees. Explain your choice.
4. Determine to the nearest nanometer the wavelength of visible light, if any, that undergoes complete destructive interference for the given film thickness and an angle of incidence of 0 degrees. Explain your choice.