www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
To make your own iridescence, try this art
project. You will need:
To make your own iridescence, try this art
project. You will need:
• Black construction paper
• Small shallow pan
• Water
• Clear nail polish
• Black construction paper
• Small shallow pan
• Water
• Clear nail polish
1. Cut the black paper into 2” x 2” squares.
2. Completely submerge the paper in the
water.
3. Drip one drop of nail polish onto the center
of the water. (NOT on the paper.) The nail
polish will form a thin layer on the surface.
4. Lift paper out of the water and the film will
stick. Allow paper to dry.
1. Cut the black paper into 2” x 2” squares.
2. Completely submerge the paper in the
water.
3. Drip one drop of nail polish onto the center
of the water. (NOT on the paper.) The nail
polish will form a thin layer on the surface.
4. Lift paper out of the water and the film will
stick. Allow paper to dry.
What do you see? How does a clear
substance do this? What is going on?
What do you see? How does a clear
substance do this? What is going on?
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
To make your own iridescence, try this art
project. You will need:
To make your own iridescence, try this art
project. You will need:
• Black construction paper
• Small shallow pan
• Water
• Clear nail polish
• Black construction paper
• Small shallow pan
• Water
• Clear nail polish
1. Cut the black paper into 2” x 2” squares.
2. Completely submerge the paper in the
water.
3. Drip one drop of nail polish onto the center
of the water. (NOT on the paper.) The nail
polish will form a thin layer on the surface.
4. Lift paper out of the water and the film will
stick. Allow paper to dry.
1. Cut the black paper into 2” x 2” squares.
2. Completely submerge the paper in the
water.
3. Drip one drop of nail polish onto the center
of the water. (NOT on the paper.) The nail
polish will form a thin layer on the surface.
4. Lift paper out of the water and the film will
stick. Allow paper to dry.
What do you see? How does a clear
substance do this? What is going on?
What do you see? How does a clear
substance do this? What is going on?
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
Iridescence
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
Iridescence
In the activity, the nail polish spreads out
into a very, very thin film, only a few
hundred nanometers thick—similar to a
soap bubble! The thickness of the bubble film
varies throughout the film. Because the thickness
changes, some interesting things happen when light
strikes the bubble.
In the activity, the nail polish spreads out
into a very, very thin film, only a few
hundred nanometers thick—similar to a
soap bubble! The thickness of the bubble film
varies throughout the film. Because the thickness
changes, some interesting things happen when light
strikes the bubble.
White light is a mixture of all colors. Some
wavelengths (colors) hit both the top and bottom of
the film and remain “in sync” or “in phase” to make
bright colors of pink, blue, etc. This is called
constructive interference. Other wavelengths get
“out of phase,” referred to as destructive interference,
and these colors get canceled out. Together, both
types of interference result in iridescence.
White light is a mixture of all colors. Some
wavelengths (colors) hit both the top and bottom of
the film and remain “in sync” or “in phase” to make
bright colors of pink, blue, etc. This is called
constructive interference. Other wavelengths get
“out of phase,” referred to as destructive interference,
and these colors get canceled out. Together, both
types of interference result in iridescence.
Iridescence can also be seen in nature,
with repeated layers of nanostructured
surfaces rather than thin films. The
Blue Morpho butterfly is one
example. (See right. Bottom picture is
a microscope image of the wing.)
Scientists have borrowed this idea from
nature (biomimicry) as inspiration
for new products, including security images on
currency/credit cards, sensors, and fabrics.
Iridescence can also be seen in nature,
with repeated layers of nanostructured
surfaces rather than thin films. The
Blue Morpho butterfly is one
example. (See right. Bottom picture is
a microscope image of the wing.)
Scientists have borrowed this idea from
nature (biomimicry) as inspiration
for new products, including security images on
currency/credit cards, sensors, and fabrics.
Activity and text adapted from Dragonfly
TV. www.pbskids.org/dragonflytv
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
Iridescence
Activity and text adapted from Dragonfly
TV. www.pbskids.org/dragonflytv
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano
Iridescence
In the activity, the nail polish spreads out
into a very, very thin film, only a few
hundred nanometers thick—similar to a
soap bubble! The thickness of the bubble film
varies throughout the film. Because the thickness
changes, some interesting things happen when light
strikes the bubble.
In the activity, the nail polish spreads out
into a very, very thin film, only a few
hundred nanometers thick—similar to a
soap bubble! The thickness of the bubble film
varies throughout the film. Because the thickness
changes, some interesting things happen when light
strikes the bubble.
White light is a mixture of all colors. Some
wavelengths (colors) hit both the top and bottom of
the film and remain “in sync” or “in phase” to make
bright colors of pink, blue, etc. This is called
constructive interference. Other wavelengths get
“out of phase,” referred to as destructive interference,
and these colors get canceled out. Together, both
types of interference result in iridescence.
White light is a mixture of all colors. Some
wavelengths (colors) hit both the top and bottom of
the film and remain “in sync” or “in phase” to make
bright colors of pink, blue, etc. This is called
constructive interference. Other wavelengths get
“out of phase,” referred to as destructive interference,
and these colors get canceled out. Together, both
types of interference result in iridescence.
Iridescence can also be seen in nature,
with repeated layers of nanostructured
surfaces rather than thin films. The
Blue Morpho butterfly is one
example. (See right. Bottom picture is
a microscope image of the wing.)
Scientists have borrowed this idea from
nature (biomimicry) as inspiration
for new products, including security images on
currency/credit cards, sensors, and fabrics.
Iridescence can also be seen in nature,
with repeated layers of nanostructured
surfaces rather than thin films. The
Blue Morpho butterfly is one
example. (See right. Bottom picture is
a microscope image of the wing.)
Scientists have borrowed this idea from
nature (biomimicry) as inspiration
for new products, including security images on
currency/credit cards, sensors, and fabrics.
Activity and text adapted from Dragonfly
TV. www.pbskids.org/dragonflytv
Activity and text adapted from Dragonfly
TV. www.pbskids.org/dragonflytv