Concept explainers
Total Internal Reflection When light passes from a more-dense to a less-dense medium−from glass to air, for example−the angle of refraction predicted by Snell’s Law (see Exercise 57) can be 90° or larger. In this case the light beam is actually reflected back into the denser medium. This phenomenon, called total internal reflection, is the principle behind fiber optics. Set θ2 = 90° in Snell’s Law, and solve for θ1 to determine the critical angle of incidence at which total internal reflection begins to occur when light passes from glass to air. (Note that the index of refraction from glass to air is the reciprocal of the index from air to glass.)
The critical angle of incidence at which total internal reflection begins to occur when light passes from glass to air.
Answer to Problem 58E
The critical angle of incidence is
Explanation of Solution
Given:
Angle of refraction is
Index of refraction from glass to air is
Result used:
Snell’s Law:
If
Calculation:
By using the Snell’s Law, the value of
Substitute the given value of
Thus, the critical angle of incidence is
Chapter 7 Solutions
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