UNDERSTANDING

TOTAL INTERNAL

Total internal reflection is a total reflection of a beam of

light at the boundary of two mediums, when the angle of
incidence in the optically denser medium exceeds a
specific critical angle.

Critical angle is the greatest angle of

incidence where the refracted
angle is 90 away from the normal line
when the ray is travel from
denser medium to a less dense
medium. ( i.e. from glass to air ).

Angle of incidence, i is
increased to the critical
angle, c ( i = c).
Angle of refraction is 90.
Produces a refracted ray that
travel along glass-air boundary.

hen the angle of refraction in less dense is 90

angle of incident is define as critical angle

Angle of incidence, i is greater

than critical angle, c
( i > c ).
No refraction occurs.
All the light energy is reflected within
the glass at the glass-air boundary.
Total internal reflection occurs.

Relationship between Critical Angle, c and

Refractive Index, n

sin i
n
sin r

i
air
glass,
n

Incident ray, i

c
i

refracted ray,
r

sin 90 = 1

sin 90
n
sin c

1
n
sin c

applicati
on