Can you show us a diagram of the critical angle, and show us the equation you would use to calculate the angle for TIR?Cocoleia said:
Critical angle = inverse sin(nr/niberkeman said:
So if you know the index for the lower index material, and can control the angle of incidence into the boundary, you should be able to determine the unknown index experimentally, right?Cocoleia said:
Internal reflection is a phenomenon that occurs when light traveling through a medium reaches a boundary with a second medium and is completely reflected back into the first medium instead of being transmitted into the second medium.
The index of refraction is a measure of how much the speed of light is reduced when it travels through a medium. Internal reflection can be used to determine the index of refraction because the angle at which it occurs depends on the index of refraction of the two mediums involved.
Internal reflection can be used to find the index of refraction when light travels from a medium with a higher index of refraction to a medium with a lower index of refraction. In this case, the angle of incidence will be greater than the critical angle, allowing for total internal reflection to occur.
Internal reflection can only be used to find the index of refraction in certain situations, as mentioned in the previous answer. It also assumes that the two mediums involved are transparent and smooth, and that the incident light is monochromatic.
No, internal reflection can only be used to find the index of refraction of materials that allow for total internal reflection to occur. For example, it cannot be used for opaque materials or materials with a high index of refraction.