total internal reflection

Question 1

what is total internal reflection?

Answer 1

when a light ray travels from a denser material to a less dense materials it can be reflected in the denser medium with no refracted ray

Question 2

what are optical fibres?

Answer 2

drawn out glass or plastic where signals such as light as transmitted through via total internal reflection

Question 3

what is the critical angle?

Answer 3

the angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs

Question 4

how can critical angle be calculated?

Answer 4

sin(c)= 1/n

Question 5

what 2 conditions does total internal reflection need to occur?

Answer 5

denser to less dense material and the angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle of the object

Question 6

what happens when light enters an optical fibre?

Answer 6

it bends towards the normal as the fibre is denser than air- the light then travels down the fibre as the fibre is denser than air via total internal reflection