A beam of light is traveling from a region of a higher index of refraction to a region of a lower index of refraction. It strikes the boundary of the refracting surface at an angle greater than the critical angle.

a. What is the angle of refraction?

b. What happens to the direction of the incident light after striking the refracting surface?

c. Name the phenomenon described in the problem.

Total internal refraction occurs when a ray of light meets the following conditions.

For the total internal reflection to occur the following conditions must be fulfilled. 1. Light falls from an optically dense material to a less dense material. 2. The angle of incident in the denser media must be greater than the critical angle.

To answer the questions above;

a) What is the angle of refraction?

There is no angle of refraction. Total internal reflection occurs.

b. What happens to the direction of the incident light after striking the refracting surface?

The direction of light is reversed. Total internal reflection occurs and the laws of reflection apply.

c. Name the phenomenon described in the problem.

The phenomenon is called Total Internal Reflection.