Refraction and Lenses - Mission RL6 Detailed Help


When light moving through water reaches the boundary with air at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, the light ray will ____. List all that apply ... .


 
Requirements for Total Internal Reflection (TIR):
Two requirements must be met for total internal reflection to occur. First, light must be in the more dense medium heading toward the boundary with the least dense medium. Second, light must be approaching the boundary with an angle of incidence that is greater than the value of the so-called critical angle.


 
Definition of Total Internal Reflection:
Total internal reflection (TIR) is the phenomenon that occurs when all the light which is approaching a boundary with a transparent medium undergoes reflection and remains within the original medium.


 
For light incident toward a boundary at angles of incidence less than or equal to the critical angle, both reflection and refraction occur. When light is incident toward a boundary at angles of incidence greater than the critical angle, only reflection takes place. That is, the light is said to undergo total internal reflection. There is no transmission of light across the boundary; it entirely reflects.