total internal reflection

total internal reflection

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Complete reflection of a ray of light in a medium such as water or glass, from the surrounding surfaces back into the medium.

It occurs when the angle of incidence is greater than a certain limiting angle, called the critical angle. In general, it takes place at the boundary between two transparent media when a ray of light in a medium of higher index of refraction approaches another medium of lower index of refraction at more than the critical angle. At all angles less than the critical angle, both reflection and refraction occur. Total internal reflection is responsible for rainbows, atmospheric halos, the sparkle of a diamond, and the path of light through optical fibres.

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      in physics, complete reflection of a ray of light within a medium such as water or glass from the surrounding surfaces back into the medium. The phenomenon occurs if the angle of incidence is greater than a certain limiting angle, called the critical angle. In general, total internal reflection takes place at the boundary between two transparent media when a ray of light in a medium of higher index of refraction approaches the other medium at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle. For a water-air surface the critical angle is 48.5°. Because indices of refraction depend on wavelength, the critical angle (and hence the angle of total internal reflection) will vary slightly with wavelength and, therefore, with colour. At all angles less than the critical angle, both refraction and reflection occur in varying proportions.

      Such atmospheric phenomena as halos and rainbows are caused by internal reflections in ice crystals and water droplets. Glass prisms (prism) can be shaped to produce total internal reflection and as such are employed in binoculars, periscopes, telescopes, and other optical instruments. Light rays may be conducted over long, twisting paths by multiple total internal reflection in glass or plastic rods or fibres. See also fibre optics.

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Universalium. 2010.

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