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sameeralord
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What is the difference between them. Even in total internal reflection not everything is reflected. I don't get it what is the big deal?
Hmm..., under normal circumstances I'm pretty sure there is indeed total reflection when total internal reflection occurs... the only case whereby there is loss of energy would be via frustrated total internal reflection when a third medium of higher refractive index is placed nearby.sameeralord said:What is the difference between them. Even in total internal reflection not everything is reflected. I don't get it what is the big deal?
Reflection is the phenomenon of light or other waves bouncing off a surface. It occurs when a ray of light hits a surface and bounces back at the same angle it came in at. This is why we can see objects, as the light bounces off of them and enters our eyes.
Total internal reflection is a special case of reflection that occurs when a ray of light hits a boundary between two materials at an angle greater than the critical angle. In this case, all of the light is reflected back into the original material, rather than being transmitted through the boundary. This effect is commonly seen in optical fibers and prisms.
The critical angle is determined by the refractive indices of the two materials at the boundary. It is the angle at which the refracted ray would be at a 90 degree angle to the normal, meaning it would travel parallel to the boundary. This angle can be calculated using Snell's law.
Reflection is the bouncing back of light or other waves off of a surface, while refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a boundary between two materials with different refractive indices. Reflection does not change the direction of the light, while refraction does.
Total internal reflection is used in various technologies, such as optical fibers, prisms, and lenses. It is also used in devices like endoscopes and binoculars to allow for the transmission of light through small spaces and angles. It is also utilized in telecommunications and data transmission through fiber optic cables.