35.

8 Total Internal reflection

1.Definition: Total internal reflection, in physics, complete reflection of
a ray of light within a medium such as water or glass from the surrounding
surfaces back into the medium. The phenomenon occurs if the angle of
incidence is greater than a certain limiting angle, called the critical angle.

Snell’s Law of refraction:

We can determine the angle of incidence by using Snell’s Law of refraction

Where
 ɵ1 : angle of incidence
ɵ2 : angle of refraction
n1 : index of refraction of the incident medium
n2 :index of refraction of the refractive medium
2.EXAMPLE:

We have the index of : AIR n=1.00

WATER n=1.33
Applying the Snell’s law of refraction:

(1.33) sin(ɵc) = 1.00 sin(900)

1.00
 sin(ɵc) = 1.33

1.00
ɵc = sin
−1
 1.33

 ɵc = 48.80
Conditions:
Total internal reflection (TIR) is the phenomenon that involves the
reflection of all the incident light off the boundary. TIR only takes place
when both of the following two conditions are met:
 the light is in the more dense medium and approaching the less
dense medium.
 the angle of incidence is greater than the so-called critical angle.
QUIZZES:

Figure 35.27 (Quick Quiz 35.6 and 35.7) Five nonparallel

light rays enter a glass prism from the left.
*Quick Quiz 35.6 In Figure 35.27, five light rays enter a glass prism from the
left. How many of these rays undergo total internal reflection at the slanted
surface of the prism? (a) 1 (b)2 (c)3 (d)4 (e) 5.
=> (b) 2

The two bright rays exiting the bottom of the prism on the right in Figure 35.27
result from total internal reflection at the right face of the prism. Notice that
there is no refracted light exiting the slanted side for these rays. The light from
the other three rays is divided into reflected and refracted parts.

* Quick Quiz 35.7 Suppose that the prism in Figure 35.27 can be rotated in the
plane of the paper. In order for all five rays to experience total internal reflection
from the slanted surface, should the prism be rotated
(a) clockwise or (b) counterclockwise

 (b) counterclockwise
Counterclockwise rotation of the prism will cause the rays to strike the slanted
side of the prism at a larger angle. When all five rays strike at an angle larger than
the critical angle, they will all undergo total internal reflection.
3.OPTICAL FIBERS
Definition: Optical fiber uses the optical principle of "total internal
reflection" to capture the light transmitted in an optical fiber and confine the
light to the core of the fiber. An optical fiber is comprised of a light-carrying
core in the center, surrounded by a cladding that acts to traps light in the
core. Glass fiber is covered by a plastic buffer coating that protects it from
the environment and allows easy handling for splicing or termination.

+ Because the index of refraction of the cladding is less than that of the core, light traveling in
the core experiences total internal reflection if it arrives at the interface between the core and
the cladding at an angle of incidence that exceeds the critical angle. In this case, light “bounces”
along the core of the optical fiber, losing very little of its intensity as it travels.