Total internal reflection

Specification
Total internal reflection sin ϴc = n2
n1
Simple treatment of fibre optics including the function of the
cladding.
Total internal reflection
Total internal reflection is when a light ray hits the boundary
between two materials of different densities, and is reflected
rather than refracted.
There are two conditions for
total internal reflection:
1. The angle of incidence must
be greater than the critical
angle.
2. The light must be passing from
a medium with a higher
refractive index to a medium
with a lower one. For example,
from water to air.

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Critical angle summary

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Total internal reflection – true or false?

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Cat’s eyes
Cat’s eyes are devices using total
internal reflection to reflect light from
oncoming vehicles back at those
vehicles.

Cat’s eyes provide road markings in the dark, when painted

lines are not visible. Different parts of the road are marked out
in different colours.

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 At the Critical Angle
Using

n1 sin i = n sin r 2

n1 = refractive index of glass

n2 = refractive index of air (= 1)
i = critical angle θc
r = 90o

n2
n1 sin θc = n2 sin 90 sin θc = n1
Important !!
 Optical Fibres
Infra red and visible light signals
can be transmitted along optical
fibres.

Optical fibres are used in

telecommunications and other
devices, such as sensors
and endoscopes.

Light waves have a higher

frequency than radio waves
so they can carry much
more information.
Optical fibres
Optical fibres are thin strands of solid glass which are
widely used in communication and medicine.

They use total internal reflection in order

to carry light over long distances and
along winding paths.
The glass core is often encased in
cladding, which prevents light escaping.
A protective plastic jacket surrounds this.
Why are the materials used to make
the core and cladding of an optical
fibre important?
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The ray of light enters the central core of the optical fibre at an
angle greater than the critical angle so it is internally reflected.
To ensure the ray is internally reflected the cladding is made from
a material which has a lower refractive index than the central core.
 Why do diamonds sparkle?

• Diamond has a very high

refractive index of 2.417 so
it separates colours better
than other substances.
• It also has a critical angle of
24.4° so light is internally
reflected many times
before emerging, spreading
out the colours more and
more.