Which of the following conditions is necessary for total internal reflection to
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following conditions is necessary for total internal reflection to occur?
Light must travel from a denser to a rarer medium
Light must travel from a rarer to a denser medium
The angle of incidence must be less than the critical angle
The angle of incidence must be equal to the critical angle
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following conditions is necessary for total internal reflection to occur?
Correct Answer: Light travels from denser to rarer medium and angle of incidence > critical angle
Step 1: Understand what total internal reflection is. It happens when light cannot pass from one medium to another and instead reflects back into the original medium.
Step 2: Identify the two types of media involved. A denser medium (like water or glass) and a rarer medium (like air).
Step 3: Know that light must travel from the denser medium to the rarer medium for total internal reflection to happen.
Step 4: Learn about the critical angle. This is the specific angle of incidence (the angle at which light hits the boundary) that must be exceeded for total internal reflection to occur.
Step 5: Remember that if the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, total internal reflection will take place.
