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Chapter 5: Q9DQ (page 1104)

A ray of light in air strikes a glass surface. Is there a range of angles for which total internal reflection occurs? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified

No, there is no range of angles for which total internal reflection occurs.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Snell’s Law

Snell's law states that, for a given pair of media, the ratio of the sines of the angle of incidenceθ1 and angle of refractionθ2 is equal to the ratio of the refractive indicesn2n1 of the two media.

sinθ1sinθ2=n2n1

02

Determine if range of angles exist

According to Snell’s Law,

n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2

where index l designates the air and index 2 designates the glass. For the angle of Refraction, we get

sinθ2=n1n2sinθ1

Total internal reflection occurs whenθ2=90° i.e. whensinθ2=1 . Sincesinθ1≤1 andn1<n2 we conclude thatsinθ2<1 which means that the total internal reflection is impossible.

Hence, there is no range of angles for which total internal reflection occurs.

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