Conditions for Total Internal Reflection

When light beams go from a more optically dense material to a less optically dense medium, this phenomenon happens. There are two situations in which total internal reflection occurs:

  • When the light is approaching the less dense medium from the more dense medium.
  • If the incidence angle is larger than the critical angle.

Total Internal Reflection

In Physics, total internal reflection is the complete reflection of a light ray within the medium (air, water glass, etc). For example, the total internal reflection of rays of light takes place in a Diamond. Since Dimond has multiple reflecting surfaces through which the Total internal reflection takes place. The total internal reflection occurs when light travels from a denser medium to a less dense medium and the angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle. The phenomenon of total internal reflection has a wide application in optical devices such as telescopes, binoculars, periscopes, etc. Read more about the concepts of Total Internal Reflection like Total Internal Reflection of Light, definition, critical angle, and total internal reflection, examples, and FAQs, here in this article!

Similar Reads

What is Total Internal Reflection?

The complete reflection of a light ray at the boundary of two media when the beam is in the medium with a higher refractive index is known as total internal reflection....

Conditions for Total Internal Reflection

When light beams go from a more optically dense material to a less optically dense medium, this phenomenon happens. There are two situations in which total internal reflection occurs:...

Total Internal Reflection Formula

Consider the case below. A beam of light travels from a watery medium to one of air. The light ray will be refracted at the point where the two mediums meet. The refracted light beam bends away from the normal as it passes from a medium with a higher refractive index to one with a lower refractive index....

Total Internal Reflection Examples

...

Applications of Total Internal Reflection

Optical fibres use total internal reflection. An optical fibre is made up of an inner core made of glass with a high refractive index and an outer cladding made of glass with a lower refractive index. An instrument made of fibre optic wire is called an endoscope. Doctors use it to view the interior of the human body, including the stomach and duodenum. In the telephone system, fibre optic cables have now replaced copper cables in telecommunications. Multiple signals can be transmitted quickly across fibre bundles using laser-generated light bursts....

FAQs on Total Internal Reflection

Question 1: Define Total Internal Reflection....

Solved Examples on Total Internal Reflection

Example 1: If the critical angle for total internal reflection from a medium to vacuum is 45°. Determine the velocity of light in the medium....

Related Articles

Refraction  Laws of Reflection  Laws of Refraction of Light...

Contact Us