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Physics Class 11 Notes
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Revise 11th Physics topics.
/ Preparation Physics Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Have you ever wondered why you see water on land, even in a desert, on an extremely hot day? This is the effect called “mirage” that occurs due to the phenomenon of total internal reflection. In this lesson from the chapter Ray optics and Optical instruments, we will be learning what exactly this phenomenon is and what its applications are.
This content has been reviewed for its quality check by subject matter expert Raghvendra Kumar (qualified for both AIEEE and GATE exams) with years of experience in teaching.To ensure that our content is factually correct, we have created content by referring to the Class 12th NCERT Physics book as well as other standard Physics books.
Table of contents
- What is Total Internal Reflection?
- Total Internal Reflection Examples in Real Life
- FAQs Related to Total Internal Reflection
- Class 12th Physics Notes
- NCERT Solutions for Class 12th Physics
What is Total Internal Reflection?
Total internal reflection definition, as per NCERT, is:
“When light travels from an optically denser medium to a rarer medium at the interface, it is partly reflected back into the same medium and partly refracted to the second medium. This reflection is called the internal reflection.”
Total internal reflection is an optical phenomenon that occurs when a wave travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to a medium with a lower refractive index. It strikes the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle. The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which the angle of refraction is 90°. In a total angle of reflection, the wave does not undergo refraction or pass through the boundary; instead, it is entirely reflected into the original medium.
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Physics Class 12 Notes
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Revise 12th Physics Notes.Total Internal Reflection Examples in Real Life
Let us take a look at the real-life total internal reflection examples:
| Example |
Description |
| Optical Fibers |
The concept of total internal reflection is used for telecommunications and internet cables. Light is transmitted through thin glass or plastic fibres, which reflect internally to carry data over long distances with minimal loss. |
| Diamonds |
Diamonds sparkle due to total internal reflection. As the light ray enters the diamond, it reflects multiple times inside the diamond before exiting. This creates a dazzling effect. |
| Prisms |
The phenomenon of Total internal reflection is used in binoculars, periscopes, and cameras for reflecting light and changing the direction of images without the use of mirrors. |
| Rainbows |
Total internal reflection occurs within water droplets due to which rainbows are formed by reflecting sunlight. |
| Mirage |
The illusion of water on the road in deserts (mirage) is caused by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the hot air near the ground. |
| Swimming Pools |
If you look underwater at the surface at steep angle, the water surface will appear silvery because of total internal reflection. |
| Endoscopes |
Medical devices leverage the phenomenon of total internal reflection to look inside the human body for transmitting light and images. |
FAQs Related to Total Internal Reflection
Let us take a look at some of the frequently asked questions related to total internal reflection:
Class 12th Physics Notes
Class 12th Physics for CBSE board students must take a look at the following notes as well:
| Name of Chapter |
Name of Chapter |
|---|---|
| Chapter 14 Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits |
NCERT Solutions for Class 12th Physics
Class 12th NCERT solutions for Physics chapters have been shared below:
| Sl. No |
Name of Chapter |
|---|---|
| Chapter 14 Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits |
Physics Ray Optics and Optical Instruments Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Other Topics under this Chapter
- Convex Mirror
- Reflection of Light by Spherical Mirrors
- Optical Instruments
- Refraction through a Prism
- Refraction at Spherical Surface and by Lenses
- Total Internal Reflection
- Refraction
- Raman Scattering
- Concave and Convex Mirrors
- Spherical Mirror
- Derivation of Lens Formula
- Beer Lambert law
- Lamberts Cosine law
- Derivation of Prism Formula
- Scattering of Light definition
Other Class 12th Physics Chapters
- Physics Alternating Current
- Physics Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
- Physics Electromagnetic Induction
- Physics Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
- Physics Semiconductor Devices
- Physics Wave Optics
- Physics Current Electricity
- Physics Nuclei
- Physics Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
- Physics Atoms
- Physics Moving Charges and Magnetism
- NCERT Class 12 Notes
- NCERT Class 12 Physics
- Physics Electric Charge and Field
- Physics Electromagnetic Waves
- Physics Magnetism and Matter
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