Can light escape the medium when total internal reflection occurs?

[RubinLicht]

So I just very recentlyearned about total internal reflection, which basically states that when the incident angle is large enough, the light will reflect back into the medium. I have a few questions:
Say we have a set up with a tank of water and a laser pointer in it
1) does this mean that if you try to look at the light source from outside the medium, would you be able to see the light source?
2) if the answer is no, then what if you put a light bulb in the water so that the light spreads out in all directions rather than just in one line. Would you only be able to see the light from the light bulb in a circular region above the water where the incident angle is less than the critic angle?

My bad If the questions don't make sense, my knowledge of the subject is hardly rigorous considering I learned it from a prep book for Sat subject tests

 

[Drakkith]

1) does this mean that if you try to look at the light source from outside the medium, would you be able to see the light source?

That's right. Just remember never to look directly into the path of a laser beam, even if you think it you're safe.

2) if the answer is no, then what if you put a light bulb in the water so that the light spreads out in all directions rather than just in one line. Would you only be able to see the light from the light bulb in a circular region above the water where the incident angle is less than the critic angle?

Think about fish inside of fish tanks. Is there any angle from which a fish would suddenly seem to disappear?

 

[RubinLicht]

Think about fish inside of fish tanks. Is there any angle from which a fish would suddenly seem to disappear?

I've never had one, but Id assume there is such an Angle

 

[Drakkith]

I've never had one, but Id assume there is such an Angle

Oh. Well, you're right. Beyond a certain angle the light is simply reflected back down into the water. Take a look at something under the water next time you get in a pool. You should be able to notice it disappear as you move away and the viewing angle increases.

 

[jbriggs444]

Oh. Well, you're right. Beyond a certain angle the light is simply reflected back down into the water. Take a look at something under the water next time you get in a pool. You should be able to notice it disappear as you move away and the viewing angle increases.

This is not correct. The image of objects in the water will become more distorted as the viewing angle approaches the horizontal, but it never disappears from view. Trace some rays. There is no forbidden angle on the air side. There are forbidden angles on the water side.

 

[RubinLicht]

I see what you mean. What if you used like a tube of some sort to limit your line of sight only directly toward the light bulb, and have the tube end just above the water?

 

[Drakkith]

This is not correct. The image of objects in the water will become more distorted as the viewing angle approaches the horizontal, but it never disappears from view. Trace some rays. There is no forbidden angle on the air side. There are forbidden angles on the water side.

How so? TIR happens when the rays try to exit the water, not the other way around.

 

[Drakkith]

I see what you mean. What if you used like a tube of some sort to limit your line of sight only directly toward the light bulb, and have the tube end just above the water?

Wouldn't change anything. The light would still reflect off of the surface of the water in the tube.

 

[RubinLicht]

How so? TIR happens when the rays try to exit the water, not the other way around.

I think he means that you can't see the light bulb if you stare directly at where the light bulb is. however, if you extend all the refracted waves, it's clear that one of the light rays from the source will still reach your eyes, it'll just be quite horizontal.

 

[Drakkith]

I think he means that you can't see the light bulb if you stare directly at where the light bulb is. however, if you extend all the refracted waves, it's clear that one of the light rays from the source will still reach your eyes, it'll just be quite horizontal.

Hmmm. I see. I suppose that makes sense.

 

[RubinLicht]

Wouldn't change anything. The light would still reflect off of the surface of the water in the tube.

I have my answer now. The purpose of my tube was to "catch" the light right after it leaves the water in order to minimize the direction change caused by refraction. If that makes any sense. So once it gets past the critical angle, it should get a lot darker (but not completely since light reflects off of water and the walls and such :( )

Thanks everyone for the help