Total Internal Reflection

Total Internal Reflection

Semi-circular glass prism

• Ray of light shone into glass and comes out other side in a different direction - it has refracted
• Angle at which it hits the glass is called the angle of incidence
• Angel at which it comes out at is called angle of refraction
• An imaginary line at 90 degrees to glass interface is called the normal
• A fainter ray of light also shines out of glass - this has been reflected internally

Angle of reflection = Angle of incidence

When you increase the angle of incidence, the other two angles also increase

You can increase the angle of incidence in a way that the anlge of refraction and reflection travel along the flat surface of the glass - This is called the critical angle

The critical angle varies depending on…