When light in material 1, which is in contact with material 2, undergoes total internal reflection, what condition is necessary for their indices of refraction? A) n₁ = 2 n₂ B) n₁ n₂ C) n₁

Question

When light in material 1, which is in contact with material 2, undergoes total internal reflection, what condition is necessary for their indices of refraction? A) n₁ = 2 n₂ B) n₁ > n₂ C) n₁ < n₂ D) n₁ = n₂ + 1 E) n₂ = 1.5

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Total internal reflection occurs when the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, which is determined by the indices of refraction of the materials involved. The critical angle is given by: sinθc = n2/n1, where n1 and n2 are the indices of refraction of the two materials. Since sinθc is a function of the ratio n2/n1, it follows that a larger value of n1 (numerator) relative to n2 (denominator) will result in a smaller critical angle. Therefore, Option B is the correct choice as it implies that n1 > n2, which is necessary for total internal reflection to occur.

When Light in Material 1, Which Is in Contact with Material