2

1
n
1
n
2
When light passes from
one medium to another,
the relationship between
the angle of incidence
(
1
) and the angle of
refraction (
2
) is:
n
1
sin
1
= n
2
sin
2
And where v
1
and v
2
are the speeds
of light in the respective media.
2
1
2
1
v
v
sin
sin

Snell's law
1
If the angle of incidence is too great, the
incident ray will not enter the new medium and
will be internally reflected in the same medium.
Incident ray
Reflected off the
inside surface
The hypotenuse in this triangular prism acts like a
mirror and reflects the incident ray internally.
Total internal reflection
Internal reflection in a glass tube
Internal reflection - explanation
2
As the angle of incidence increases, so
the angle of refraction increases - until
the incident ray becomes reflected
internally as in above sketches.
Air
Water
The angle of incidence for which the angle of refraction
is 90
0
, is called the critical angle for the 2 media.
Refraction in glass
Critical angle
3
Eye
Total internal reflection in a glass rod or fibre
optic tube. This concept is used to see inside a
patient and makes use of light being reflected
up and down many tubes at the same time.
Object
Rod or tube
Total internal
reflection
Total internal reflection in a stream of water
4
When fibre optic bundles (called endoscopes) are used
to see inside a patient, light is sent down some of the
tubes, reflected off the objects at the end of the tube
and enable the Doctor to see and study what is
happening inside the patient.
The light is trapped inside the tubes as it is reflected
down the tubes into the patient, reflected off the object
at the end of the tubes and then back up the tubes to
the Doctor.
5
Endoscope with optic fibres
Using an
endoscope
through the
mouth into the
duodenum.
Endoscope in a mouth
Stomach cancer through an endoscope
6
Rainbows are formed as a result of
refraction, total internal reflection and then
further refraction in millions of raindrops
all at the same time.
Formation of rainbows
Make a rainbow
7
How a
periscope
works.
Conditions for total internal reflection:
1. Light must travel towards medium with lower
refractive index & thus optical density.
2. Angle of incidence must be greater than the
critical angle.
Periscope
View through submarine periscope
8