Optical interference in curved soap films

Abstract

A method of measuring the thickness of soap bubbles from the interference effects in transmitted monochromatic and white light is described. With monochromatic light it is based on the observation of the maxima and minima in the transmitted intensity; with white light the film thickness is obtained from the colors of the transmitted light. These interferences are most pronounced in the region where the angle of incidence is close to 90°, i.e., along the outline of the bubble.