Why does total internal reflection occur only when light travels more slowly through the first medium then the second and not the other way around?

TIR occurs because the angle of refraction reaches a 90-degree angle before the angle of incidence reaches a 90-degree angle. Since light only bends away from the normal when passing from a more dense medium into a less dense medium, then this would be a necessary condition for total internal reflection.

Why is total internal reflection is only possible for light passing from a medium of high refractive index to one of a lower refractive index?

The medium with the higher refractive index is commonly described as optically denser, and the one with the lower refractive index as optically rarer. Hence it is said that total internal reflection is possible for “dense-to-rare” incidence, but not for “rare-to-dense” incidence.

Why is it not possible to have total internal reflection when light travels from a medium of lower refractive index to a medium of higher refractive index?

The angle θc for which sinθc = n2/n1 = 1 is called the critical angle. For angles θ1 greater than the critical angle there exists no solution for θ2, and there is no refracted ray. Total internal reflection occurs only if light travels from a medium of high index of refraction to a medium of low index of refraction.

Can total internal reflection occurs when light travels from rarer to denser medium?

When light travels from denser to rarer medium, it bends away from the normal. Therefore, total internal reflection takes place when light travels from water to air with angle of incidence greater than critical angle.

Can total internal reflection occur when light travels from air into glass?

total internal reflection, in physics, complete reflection of a ray of light within a medium such as water or glass from the surrounding surfaces back into the medium. The phenomenon occurs if the angle of incidence is greater than a certain limiting angle, called the critical angle.

What happens to light during total internal reflection?

What happens to light during total internal reflection? The light reflects back into the original medium at the same angle.

How does total internal reflection occur when light moves?

In general, total internal reflection takes place at the boundary between two transparent media when a ray of light in a medium of higher index of refraction approaches the other medium at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle. …

When light travels from then total internal reflection is possible?

When light ray travels from …… then total internal reflection is possible. When light ray enters rarer medium from denser medium, then it goes away from normal. Hence total internal reflection is possible.

When light ray passes from air to glass then it?

When a ray passes from air into glass the direction in which the light ray is travelling changes. The light ray appears to bend as it as it passes through the surface of the glass. When a light ray passes from air into water a similar thing occurs: the light ray is bent as it strikes the surface of the water.

Does total internal reflection occur in rainbow?

The droplets that direct a rainbow’s red light to our eyes are not the same ones directing blue light to our eyes. Total internal reflection plays no role in this, and the reason is interesting. Two internal reflections give rise to the primary rainbow, with 40° to 42° radius.

What is total internal reflection Under what conditions does it occur?

Total internal reflection occurs for any incident angle greater than the critical angle θc, and it can only occur when the second medium has an index of refraction less than the first.