Total Internal Reflection Simulator
Explore the phenomenon of total internal reflection, where light rays traveling from a denser to a rarer medium are reflected back at the interface of two mediums. This optical effect is governed by Snell’s Law, a fundamental principle in physics.
Below, you’ll find an interactive simulator that allows you to visualize total internal reflection in action. Adjust variables such as the angle of incidence, refractive indices of the mediums, and slab width to observe how they affect the behavior of light rays. Measure parameters like power, speed, and angles of refracted and reflected light for a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon.
FAQs on Total Internal Reflection
Qus 1. When does total internal reflection occurs?
Total internal reflection requires two conditions to be fulfilled-
1) light must be travelling from denser medium to rarer medium and
2) the angle of incidence at the interface of two medium must be greater than critical angle for the pair of medium.
Qus 2. Why total internal reflection occurs?
Light rays bend away from normal when they cross into a rarer medium from a denser medium, hence the angle of refraction is greater than angle of incidence. When the angle of incidence is equal to critical angle, the angle of refraction becomes perpendicular to the normal, i.e., the rays of light in rarer medium runs parallel to interface of two mediums. If the angle of incidence is more than critical angle, the rays of light are reflected back into denser medium. This is because the angle of refraction cannot be more than 90o, as it would violate Snell’s law. The reflected rays follow laws of reflection.
Qus 3. How total internal reflection works?
When polarized rays of light incident on a surface, it can either get reflected, refracted or absorbed. If material absorbs negligible amount of light then reflection and refraction phenomenon can be observed clearly. The reflected rays follow laws of reflection and refracted rays follows Snell’. Total internal reflection occurs when light is travelling from denser medium to rarer medium and the angle of incidence is greater than critical angle for the pair of medium at the interface. When light crosses into rarer medium from a denser medium, it bends away from the normal. At critical angle of incidence, the refracted rays are perpendicular to normal, i.e., 90o. If angle of refraction is more than 90o, the Snell’s laws are violated. When the angle of incidence is more than critical angle, the refraction is not possible as the angle of refraction cannot be more than 90o. Hence the light is reflected back to medium following laws of reflection.
Qus 4. Does internal reflection occur in diamonds?
Yes, total internal reflection is commonly observed in diamonds due to their high refractive index. In fact, diamonds are often cut in shapes that maximize this effect, further enhancing their shine.
Qus 5. Can total internal reflection occur from air to water?
If light is travelling from air to water, total internal reflection is not possible as light is travelling from rarer to denser medium. However if light is travelling from water to air then total internal reflection is possible if angle of incidence is greater than critical angle for air-water interface.
Qus 6. Can total internal reflection occur from air to glass?
If light is travelling from air to glass, total internal reflection is not possible as light is travelling from rarer to denser medium. However if light is travelling from glass to air then total internal reflection is possible if angle of incidence is greater than critical angle for air-glass interface.
Qus 7. How total internal reflection is used in optical fiber?
An optical fiber looks like a long flexible wire whose core is made of high refractive index material such as glass and quartz, and cladding (a layer covering the core) is made of a low refractive index material. The pair of material used in making optical fiber has low critical angle. If light signals are sent through one side of optical fiber at an angle greater than critical angle then the light rays undergo multiple total internal reflection till it comes out of other end of fiber. Thus, optical fiber helps us guide the path of light signals from one end to another using total internal reflection.
Qus 8. Does total internal reflection occur in a rainbow?
No, rainbows are not formed due to total internal reflection (TIR). For TIR to occur, the dispersed light rays need to hit the water-air boundary at steep angles, which isn’t the case with rainbow formations. Rainbows are rather formed in the following manner:
- Raindrops disperse the white light into its constituent colors.
- Inside the raindrop these dispersed light rays travel undergo both refracted & internally reflected at the water-air boundary(but not total internal reflection).
- The internally reflected light rays get refracted again as they exit the raindrops, reaching the observer’s eyes as rainbows.
Qus 9. How total internal reflection is used in endoscope?
Endoscope uses two sets of optical fibers to do imaging of internal organs in a body. One set of optical fiber uses total internal reflection to guide the path of light into the patient body, and another set of optical fibers uses total internal reflection to guide the reflected light from internal organs to a detector outside the body for further study.
Qus 10. What are the new-age use cases of total internal reflection?
Many devices encountered in day-to-day life uses total internal reflection such as LCD TV screens, touch screens, optical fibers, endoscopes, optical fingerprinting devices and various light sensitive sensors. The use cases include:
1. High speed information transfer via optical fibers
2. Medical imaging of internal organs via endoscope
3. Better illuminations in LCD Screens
4. Advanced microscopy
5. Creation of virtual reality via VR glasses
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