Scribd
Upload
350 views5 pages

HK F3 Physics Notes - Total Internal Reflection

Total internal reflection occurs when light travels from an optically denser medium to a less dense medium at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle. This results in the incident ray being totally reflected with no light refracted. The critical angle and refractive index can be calculated using Snell's law. Examples of total internal reflection include the use of prisms as mirrors, light transmission through optical fibers, and mirages seen above hot surfaces.

Uploaded by

John
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
350 views5 pages

HK F3 Physics Notes - Total Internal Reflection

Total internal reflection occurs when light travels from an optically denser medium to a less dense medium at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle. This results in the incident ray being totally reflected with no light refracted. The critical angle and refractive index can be calculated using Snell's law. Examples of total internal reflection include the use of prisms as mirrors, light transmission through optical fibers, and mirages seen above hot surfaces.

Uploaded by

John
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Total Internal Reflection

Total internal reflection occurs when:


[Condition 1]
optically denser medium → optically less dense
medium. [Condition 2]
angle of incidence (i) > critical angle (C)
Result:
The incident ray will be totally reflected.

Conditions:
c= critical angle i= angle of incidence
i<ci=c i>c

intensity of Dim Brighter Brightest


reflected ray

intensity of Bright Dimmest N/A


refracted ray

angle of reflection =i=i =i

angle of refraction θg 90° N/A

Conclusion:
Total internal reflection occurs when i > c, where no refraction occurs.
Critical angle and refractive index
- General form of Snell’s law (n=refractive index, α1 = i, α2 = r*)
*r=angle of refraction
n1 sin α1 = n2 sin α2
1. Medium → Air
- If α1 = critical angle (C), n2is the refractive index of air (take n2 = 1)
[* n1 = refractive index of medium; n2 = refractive index of air]
n1 sin α1 = n2 sin α2
n1 sin C = 1 (sin 90°)
−1 1
������ ���� = ������ ( ��1)
1
1=
�� or

2. Denser Medium → Less Dense Medium


- the critical angle can be calculated by this formula (from Maths So,
sin 90°=1) ,if you don’t know this fact , you are weak, student [* n1 =
refractive index of denser medium; n2 = refractive index of less dense medium] n1 sin α1 = n2
sin α2
n1 sin C = n2(sin 90°)
������ �� =��2
��1

Examples
Perspex → Air
Perspex → Water
��2
By using n1 sin α1 = n2 sin α2,
By using ������ �� = ,
��1
1. 5 ������ �� = 1. 0003 ������ 90°
������ �� =1.33
�� = 41. 8°
1.5
�� = 62. 5°
Examples of total internal reflection

1. Using prisms as mirrors


- If total internal reflection occurs inside the prism, it works like
a mirror.

Prism behaves like a perfect mirror


- X multiple images are formed
- The intensity of the refracted light is brighter than a glass
mirror.

Binoculars Periscope

Headlight reflector Cat’s eye


2. Diamond
- Diamond (higher n) → Air (smaller n)
- Total internal reflection occurs
→ reflects most of the incident ray

3. Optical fibres
- Core (higher n) → Cladding (smaller n)
- Total internal reflection occurs
- E.g. endoscopes & telecommunications

↑ data transmission rate


↓ transmission loss
↓ interference of signals
lighter, thinner, cheaper, stronger
4. Mirage
- It is an illusion
- Air of different temperatures has different refractive indices
- Light passes through air with different n and i > C
→ Total internal reflection occurs
5. Fish-eye view
- C = 49°
- View squeezed into a cone ∼ 98°
- Outside the cone, water reflects light from underwater

You might also like