Why does this optical phenomenon occur?
Any reasons?
2006-10-11 01:21:23 · 4 answers · asked by Victor W 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
when light moves from a more optically dense medium to another one the angle in the less dense material is larger. As you increase the angle of incidence the other angle keeps getting larger. at a certain angle of incidence, usually called c, the light goes tangential to the surface.
If you further increase the angle of incidence,i, the light has to "come back" and this phenomenon is called TIR. as the light is in the same medium now, i =r and in effect the surface is a mirror.
2006-10-11 01:43:55 · answer #1 · answered by blind_chameleon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Total Internal Reflection Occurs When
2017-01-13 20:16:49 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because light refraction, travelling from a more optically dense material to a less optically dense material, has an angle of incidence which would result in a 90° angle of refraction. At a greater angle than that, the light cannot escape. Total internal reflection is the only option to conserve energy.
2006-10-11 01:24:46 · answer #3 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a function of refraction and snell's law one application is prisms
2016-03-28 04:44:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋