TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION (TIR) SIMULATION

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Concept: Total Internal Reflection (TIR)

Total Internal Reflection (TIR) occurs when a light ray traveling from a denser medium to a rarer medium (e.g., glass to air or water to air) hits the interface at an angle greater than the critical angle.

Key Points:

1. Normal Incidence:
   When light hits the interface perpendicularly (at 0° incidence), it passes straight through without bending.
2. Partial Refraction and Reflection:
   As the angle of incidence increases, the light ray is partially refracted into the rarer medium and partially reflected back into the denser medium:

• The angle of refraction is greater than the angle of incidence, as light speeds up in the rarer medium.
• The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.

1. Critical Angle:
   At a specific angle of incidence, known as the critical angle, the refracted ray travels along the boundary between the two media. Beyond this angle:

• No refraction occurs.
• The entire light ray reflects back into the denser medium.

1. Total Internal Reflection (TIR):
   For angles greater than the critical angle, the light ray undergoes complete reflection within the denser medium. This phenomenon is called Total Internal Reflection.

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Additional Notes:

• Medium Dependence:
  The critical angle depends on the refractive indices of the two media. For example:
• Glass to air: ~42°.
• Water to air: ~48°.
• Applications of TIR:
  TIR is used in technologies like optical fibers, periscopes, and binoculars due to its efficiency in trapping and guiding light.

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