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Homework help-total internal reflection!!!

Hi!!!
Can someone please explain at what point should the term total internal reflection be used?

I know that there is a point when, by increasing the incident ray, therefracted ray becomes 90° and the angle of incidence is called the critical angle.
Is this total reflection, or is it later, when after increasing the incident ray, the refracted ray disappears and there is only reflection occuring in the prism.
Thanks so much!!! :smile:
Original post by wallflower#1
Hi!!!
Can someone please explain at what point should the term total internal reflection be used?

I know that there is a point when, by increasing the incident ray, therefracted ray becomes 90° and the angle of incidence is called the critical angle.
Is this total reflection, or is it later, when after increasing the incident ray, the refracted ray disappears and there is only reflection occuring in the prism.
Thanks so much!!! :smile:


The second part is what happens after the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.

The refracted ray doesn't really 'disappear' as such, it's just that the ray is being reflected through whatever substance you are putting it through (normally light through some kind of glass.)

Also, it might come in handy to recall that total internal reflection can only occur from a substance with high refractive index to a substance with low refractive index (e.g. glass to air)
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wallflower#1
OP
Original post by Arithmeticae
The second part is what happens after the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.

The refracted ray doesn't really 'disappear' as such, it's just that the ray is being reflected through whatever substance you are putting it through (normally light through some kind of glass.)

Also, it might come in handy to recall that total internal reflection can only occur from a substance with high refractive index to a substance with low refractive index (e.g. glass to air)

Thanks for that, but how would you explain as a summary, what total internal reflection is at GCSE level??
Original post by wallflower#1
Thanks for that, but how would you explain as a summary, what total internal reflection is at GCSE level??


When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, teh ray cannot pass through the block and is instead entirely reflected through the inside of teh block
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wallflower#1
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Original post by Arithmeticae
When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, teh ray cannot pass through the block and is instead entirely reflected through the inside of teh block

thanks =)

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