Spherical glass object with index of refraction N

In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of total internal reflection within a spherical glass object with a specific index of refraction and angle of incidence. The concept is related to fiber optic communications and can be proven using Snell's Law and geometry. However, this phenomenon is not possible for a spherical object due to the maximum angle of refraction.
  • #1
leon1127
486
0
imagine there is a spherical glass object with index of refraction N
is that possible that for some N and angle of incidence A, the light will be total internal reflected forever. In other word, the light will travel within the object forever?
i have been trying to proof it. but i don't know much about optic... so no where to start at
 
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  • #2
What you are describing is the operating principle behind fiber optic communications.
 
  • #3
For a cylindrical object with light coming in one end, yeah... but for a spherical object there's no incident angle that causes the light to be trapped permanantly inside.

Leon, all you need for this is Snell's Law for refraction of a light ray, and a bit of geometry. Note that the angle of the ray after the first refraction (entering the sphere) has a certain maximum value, no matter what the incident angle is. That would be a good starting point for a proof.
 
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1. What is the index of refraction of a spherical glass object?

The index of refraction of a spherical glass object refers to the measure of how much the speed of light is reduced when passing through the object. It is denoted by the letter N and is dependent on the material of the glass and the wavelength of light.

2. How is the index of refraction of a spherical glass object determined?

The index of refraction of a spherical glass object is typically determined by measuring the angle at which light bends when passing through the object. This angle can then be used to calculate the index of refraction using Snell's law.

3. What is the significance of the index of refraction in a spherical glass object?

The index of refraction is important in a spherical glass object because it affects how light behaves when passing through the object. It determines the amount of bending or refraction that occurs, which is essential for many applications such as lenses and prisms.

4. How does the index of refraction of a spherical glass object relate to its material?

The index of refraction is directly related to the material of the spherical glass object. Different materials have different atomic structures, which affect how light passes through them. As a result, each material has a unique index of refraction.

5. Can the index of refraction of a spherical glass object change?

Yes, the index of refraction of a spherical glass object can change depending on the temperature, pressure, and wavelength of light passing through it. This phenomenon is known as optical dispersion and is responsible for the formation of rainbows and other optical effects.

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