Iridescent colors seen in the pearly luster of an abalone shell are due to
A) refraction.
B) diffraction.
C) dispersion.
D) interference.
E) polarization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The iridescent colors in an abalone shell are due to interference, which occurs when light waves reflect off the multiple layers of nacre in the shell, causing some wavelengths to reinforce each other and others to cancel out, creating the observed colors.

Iridescent Colors Seen in the Pearly Luster of an Abalone